The foreign-registered airplane was substantially damaged at about 1015 Eastern time during impact with trees and a house shortly after takeoff. The commercial pilot and one passenger were seriously injured; another passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. The flights purpose was to ferry toys and relief supplies to Haiti. The pilot stated he retracted the wing flaps “too early” after takeoff. The airplane impacted a tree and the pilot shut down the engine prior to impacting a house approximately one-quarter mile from the end of the runway.
May 16, 2010, Clearwater, Fla., Piper PA-46-350P
The foreign-registered airplane was substantially damaged at about 1015 Eastern time during impact with trees and a house shortly after takeoff. The commercial pilot and one passenger were seriously injured; another passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. The flights purpose was to ferry toys and relief supplies to Haiti. The pilot stated he retracted the wing flaps "too early" after takeoff.
Key Takeaways:
- A foreign-registered airplane was substantially damaged and its occupants injured after crashing into trees and a house shortly after takeoff.
- The commercial pilot and one passenger were seriously injured, with another passenger sustaining minor injuries.
- The pilot stated the crash was due to retracting the wing flaps "too early" after takeoff during a flight to ferry relief supplies to Haiti.
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