NYC97LA060

Factual narrative

On March 14, 1997, at 1145 eastern standard time, a Piper "Warrior" PA-28-161, N2914A, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during an aborted takeoff from the Sanford Regional Airport (SFM) in Sanford, Maine. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local instructional flight originated at 1120 and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot reported: "My intention was to execute a touch-and-go landing. After touching down and upon applying full power for the subsequent takeoff, I noted that I had neglected to retract the flaps I had set for the landing (two notches or 25 degrees). I then retracted the flaps, and the aircraft began to settle, the controls becoming less responsive. I decided to abort the takeoff and brought the power setting to idle. The aircraft touched down once on the runway to the left of center, drifting leftward as it did so, became slightly airborne again, and finally came to rest upright in the snow a few feet off the runway." The pilot has a total flight time of 16.5 hours. He did not report any mechanical deficiencies with the airplane prior to the accident. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by: "...Using stop-and-go versus touch-and-go procedures." A Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector performed a post accident inspection of N2914A. She reported no pre-impact anomalies. The Inspector reported that both the firewall and engine mounts suffered substantial damage and that the left wing sustained dents to the leading edge, tip, aileron and flap. The left main gear was sheared off its mounting point. The Inspector stated: "Unfortunately the snow banks up here this time of year are ice banks, so the aircraft suffered more damage than you would usually see." The aircraft went off the side of the runway and collided with a snow bank during an aborted takeoff. According to the pilot, 'my intention was to execute a touch-and-go landing. After touching down and upon applying full power for the subsequent takeoff, I noted that I had neglected to retract the flaps I had set for the landing (two notches or 25 degrees). I then retracted the flaps, and the aircraft began to settle, the controls becoming less responsive. I decided to abort the takeoff and brought the power setting to idle. The aircraft touched down once on the runway to the left of center, drifting leftward as it did so, became slightly airborne again, and finally came to rest upright in the snow a few feet off the runway.' The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction and he stated that the accident could have been prevented by 'using stop and go versus touch-and-go landing procedures.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12