Event BFO94LA148

Factual narrative

On August 25, 1994, at 0635 eastern daylight time, N11HK, a Piper PA 28-181, owned and operated by Paul D. Spiro of Abington, Massachusetts, collided with trees during takeoff at Central Maine Airport of Norridgewock, Maine. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The business flight was operated under 14 CFR 91 and had originated in Norwood, Massachusetts. According to the pilot, he was going to Maine to pick up a patient and take him to Boston, Massachusetts, for treatment. The pilot, a volunteer airlife pilot stated that he overflew the field and selected runway 3 for the landing as that runway was clear of fog. He stated that as the airplane was about 30 to 50 feet above the approach end of the runway, he lost sight of the runway due to the ground fog. The pilot stated that he increased the power to go-around, but as he started his go-around the runway came into sight again, so he decided to land. The pilot stated that during the landing, he realized that there was not enough runway remaining so he tried to go around again. During the climb out at about 20 feet above the ground, the airplane struck trees at the departure end and fell to the ground. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction. THE VOLUNTEER, AIRLIFE PILOT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING. HE STATED THAT UPON ARRIVAL AT HIS DESTINATION HE OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT AND HE SELECTED RUNWAY 3 AS THERE WAS SOME FOG IN THE AREA, BUT RUNWAY 3 WAS CLEAR OF FOG. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ON FINAL APPROACH AS HE PASSED OVER THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 3 AT APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 50 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE INCREASED THE POWER TO GO-AROUND, BUT AS HE STARTED HIS GO-AROUND THE RUNWAY CAME INTO SIGHT AGAIN, SO HE DECIDED TO LAND. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING, HE REALIZED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH RUNWAY REMAINING SO HE TRIED TO GO-AROUND AGAIN. DURING THE CLIMB OUT AT ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12