ANC24LA035

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-22-150 · Afton, WY · May 17, 2024

Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal report
Date
May 16, 2024, 20:38 local (May 17, 2024, 02:38 UTC)
Place
Afton, WY
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N9998DPiper PA-22-150
Defining event
Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Investigation class
Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
Parties
FAA - Denver FSDO
FAA report
20240516014429A
Case key
194300

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The commercial pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff. Contributing was the student pilot’s application of brakes during the takeoff roll and the failure of both pilots to maintain a positive transfer of controls.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotPiper PA-22-150: 52 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedPiper PA-22-150: 38 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Communication (personnel): cRM/MRM techniquesPersonnel issues › Task performance · Flight crewPiper PA-22-150: 1 caseAll aircraft: 26 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The commercial pilot, seated in the right seat, and the student pilot and airplane owner, seated in the left seat, reported that the purpose of the flight was a local flight in the student pilot’s newly acquired airplane. Both pilots reported that they had just met for the first time just before the accident flight. The commercial pilot added that she was unaware that the airplane owner was only a student pilot. The student pilot reported that, during takeoff, the commercial pilot applied full power, the airplane lifted off the runway momentarily, settled back onto the runway surface, then subsequently lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane departed the right side of the runway, struck two fences, and nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and wing struts. The commercial pilot reported that, during takeoff roll, the student pilot was in control of the airplane. The commercial pilot stated that the student pilot held full power and brakes throughout the accident sequence. Review of photos taken at the accident site show witness marks on the runway surface, adjacent taxiway, and grass consistent with the application of brakes throughout the accident sequence. The brakes are only operable from the left seat in the accident airplane. The student pilot reported that, during a postaccident inspection of the airplane, he found that the elevator trim was set to the full nose-up position. The commercial pilot and the student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N9998D
Reported as
Piper PA-22-150
Category
Airplane
Serial number
22-6791
Airframe hours
3,381.52
Engine
Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 8, 2023 · 20 hours before
Destination
Same as departure
Airport
AFO · Afton Municipal, runway 34, 7,025 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
33
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine sea, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Right
Flight hours
4,500 total · 400 in this make and model · 75 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days
Role
Student pilot
Age
21
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Last flight review
July 19, 2022
Seat
Left
Flight hours
48 total · 0 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
32 °F, dew point 32 °F
Altimeter
29.93 inHg
Observed at
AFO
METAR
KAFO 170235Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR A2993 RMK AO2

Docket · 8

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 13, 2025, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 9.2 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.