# Accident 20120318003179A: Piper PA-28-161, Mexico, MO, March 18, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 18, 2012, 11:50 local time
- Place: Mexico, MO
- Airport: Feutz
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1544° N, 91.8175° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1544&lon=-91.8175&mi=10
- Aircraft: N158EA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N158EA-2012-05-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 152 total, 45 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12FA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA188) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120318003179A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM A 2,600 FOOT GRASS RUNWAY WITH A SIGNIFICANT RIGHT CROSSWIND AND A POTENTIAL RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND COMPONENT.  THE RUNWAY HAD NOT BEEN MOWED RECENTLY. THE GRASS VARIED FROM 6 - 10 INCHES IN HEIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF WITH APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET OF RUNWAY REMAINING, BUT FAILED TO CLEAR TREES APPROXIMATELY 40 - 50 YARDS BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.  AFTER IMPACT WITH THE TREES, THE WINGS SEPERATED FROM THE FUSELAGE.  THE FUSELAGE CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 20 YARDS BEYOND THE TREES.  DURING THE POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE, NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE DISCOVERED.  THE THROTTLE WAS IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION, THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SET TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK  AND THE FLAPS AND FLAP LEVER WERE IN THE FLAP RETRACTED POSITION.  IT WAS NOTED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS SET TO THE LEFT MAG AND NOT BOTH.

## 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 CEN12FA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA188), Mar 18, 2012: Piper PA-28-161 (N158EA), Mexico, MO, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate…

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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