# Accident 20220810014369A: Piper PA-28-140, Sparta, MI, August 10, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 10, 2022, 10:45 local time
- Place: Sparta, MI
- Airport: Sparta Miller Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.1295° N, 85.6795° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1295&lon=-85.6795&mi=10
- Aircraft: N55338, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55338) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (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-28-140
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 333 total, 67 in this make and model, 52 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22LA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA385) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220810014369A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 10, 2022 AT 10:45 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME (EDT), A PIPER PA-28-140 AIRCRAFT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ 14 CFR 91 FLIGHT SCHOOL AND OPERATED BY A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FOR A PERSONAL FLIGHT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT STRUCK A FENCE WHILE TRYING TO TAKEOFF FROM SPARTA MILLER AIRPORT (8D4)

VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND LIGHT WINDS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PRIVATE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE PILOT AND RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES TO HER FOREHEAD AND ONE OF THE TWO JUVENILE PASSENGERS RECEIVED A MINOR CUT ON THEIR LEG. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM SPARTA MILLER AIRPORT, (8D4) SPARTA, MI AT APPROXIMATELY 10:40 EDT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD 36 GALLONS OF FUEL, A PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WHEN IT DEPARTED FROM RUNWAY 25. DURING THE TAKEOFF THE PILOT FELT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT PERFORMING PROPERLY AND DID NOT BELIEVE THEY WOULD CLEAR THE TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. AN ABORT WAS PERFORMED WITH LITTLE RUNWAY REMAINING. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE PREPARED SURFACE AND STRUCK THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY FENCE. THE PILOT HAD JUST RECEIVED THEIR CFI THE PREVIOUS WEEK AND THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME FLYING THIS PARTICULAR AIRCRAFT.

WEATHER WAS REPORTED AT 8D4, 8/10/2022 1353Z WIND 240@5 TEMP 71F DEW POINT 61 ALTIMETER 3018

EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A FENCE AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT ABOUT 450 FROM THE END OF RUNWAY 25. ALL MAJOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF THE AIRPLANE STAYED INTACT. THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED 36 GALLONS OF FUEL TOTAL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE ENVELOPE AND 75 POUNDS BELOW MAX TAKEOFF WEIGHT. A MECHANIC FROM THE FLIGHT SCHOOL EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND PERFORMED A COMPRESSION TEST SHOWING ALL CYLINDERS WERE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY.

## 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 CEN22LA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA385), Aug 10, 2022: Piper PA-28-140 (N55338), Sparta, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s delayed decision to reject the takeoff, resulting in a runway excursion and impact with a fence.

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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