# Accident 20090815048799A: Piper PA-15, Plainwell, MI, August 15, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 15, 2009, 02:00 local time
- Place: Plainwell, MI
- Airport: Plainwell
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.4678° N, 85.6481° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4678&lon=-85.6481&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4380H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4380H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-15 (registry code 7101502, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-145B series (registry code 41502, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-145b-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-15
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,400 total, 113 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA548](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA548) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090815048799A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT WAS DEPARTING RUNWAY 27 AT PLAINWELL MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, PLAINWELL MI.  THE WINDS WERE VARIABLE FROM THE SOUTH AT APPROXIMATLY 10 KTS.  EARLY IN THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT REALISED HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.  THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY GROUND LOOPED DAMAGING THE GEAR AND RIGHT WING.  NEITHER THE PILOT NOR PASSENGER WAS HURT.  POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVIELED A BROKEN TAILWHEEL STEARING CHAIN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN09CA548](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA548), Aug 15, 2009: Piper PA-15 (N4380H), Plainwell, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of control on takeoff for undetermined reasons.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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