# Accident 20230504005499A: Piper PA-28R-180, Defuniak Spring, FL, May 4, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 4, 2023, 12:15 local time
- Place: Defuniak Spring, FL
- Airport: Defuniak Springs
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.7334° N, 86.1552° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7334&lon=-86.1552&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3796T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3796T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 937 total, 820 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA217) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230504005499A

## Narrative

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

AIRMAN STATES THAT JUST AFTER DEPARTURE FROM RUNWAY 9 AND WHEN HE WAS ONLY TEN FEET IN THE AIR WITH THE GEAR STILL DOWN, HIS RIGHT WING CAUGHT A WIND GUST FROM THE SOUTH.  IT LIFTED HIS RIGHT WING SUBSTANTIALLY AND THE AIRPLANE WAS PUSHED TO THE LEFT.  HE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE WINGS LEVEL BUT HAD BEEN BLOWN NORTH OF THE RUNWAY AND TOUCHED DOWN IN THE MEDIAN.HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHEN IT HIT A BERM AND WAS MOMENTARILY AIRBORNE AGAIN BEFORE COMING TO A STOP ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY.  PHOTOS SHOW THE MAIN GEAR RIPPED AWAY FROM THE  WINGS,  NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, PROPELLER BENT AND THE MAIN SPUR BENT WITH SUBSTANTIAL RIPPLES THROUGHOUT THE SKIN ON BOTH WINGS.

## 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 ERA23LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA217), May 4, 2023: Piper PA28R (N3796T), Defuniak Springs, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taking off in a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a berm. Contributing was the automated weather briefing which…

## Other reports on N3796T (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20211121019739I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211121019739I), Nov 21, 2021: Piper PA-28R-180 (N3796T), Defuniak Spring, FL, Minor damage. During landing rollout, nosegear trunion mount failed. Nosegear broke allowing propeller strike.

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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