# Accident 20201119014689A: Piper PA-28-235, Lititz, PA, November 19, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 19, 2020, 19:30 local time
- Place: Lititz, PA
- Airport: Lancaster Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.1210° N, 76.2991° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1210&lon=-76.2991&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9086W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9086W-2022-09-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-235 (registry code 7102810, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,353 total, 2,531 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA049) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201119014689A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO CONDUCT THE RETURN LEG OF A PLEASURE FLIGHT ORIGINATING AT CARROLL COUNTY AIRPORT (KDMW). PILOT STATED HE HAD DINNER WITH FRIENDS AT LANCASTER COUNTY AIRPORT (KLNS) AND DENIES ANY ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION. AT APPROX 1930 HOURS, THE PILOT GROUND TAXIED HIS AIRPLANE, ON TAXIWAY E, TO THE HOLD SHORT LINE PRIOR TO RECEIVING CLEARANCE FOR TAKE OFF BY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL. AFTER RECEIVING CLEARANCE FOR TAKEOFFF, RUNWAY 13, THE PILOT CONTINUED ON TAXIWAY E. THE PILOT MISTAKENLY THOUGHT HE WAS ON RUNWAY 13, APPLIED FULL POWER, AND PROCEEDED WITH HIS TAKE OFF ROLL. JUST AS THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT TO LIFT OFF, THE PILOT SAW TWO LARGE TANKS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIM AND BANKED HARD RIGHT. THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE STEEL AND CONCRETE BOLLARDS PROTECTING A FUEL FARM. THE IMPACT SEPARATED THE LEFT WING FROM THE FUSELAGE. THE FUSELAGE SKIDDED APPROX 150 FEET, INVERTED, THROUGH THE TURF ADJACENT TO THE FUEL FARM, AND WAS STOPPED BY A CHAIN LINK FENCE. THE PILOT WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND TREATED FOR MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.

## 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 ERA21LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA049), Nov 20, 2020: Piper PA28 (N9086W), Lititz, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent attempt to takeoff on a taxiway, rather than a runway, which resulted in a collision with a fence during takeoff.

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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