# NTSB ANC24LA035: Piper PA-22-150, N9998D, Afton, WY, May 17, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 16, 2024, 20:38 local (May 17, 2024, 02:38 UTC) - Place: Afton, WY - Coordinates: 42.71378, -110.94049 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7138&lon=-110.9405&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 194300 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194300/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194300 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA035 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,969 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel): cRM/MRM techniques](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063540): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063540/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063540/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 4,590 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9998D), registered now, S/N 22-6791 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-6791 - Airframe hours: 3381.52 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; 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 - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; 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 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20240516014429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240516014429A), May 16, 2024: Piper PA-22-150, Afton, WY, Substantial damage. Student pilot lost control of aircraft on take-off roll. Commericial pilot in right seat could not control aircraft because right side had no brake pedals. She… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 13, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194300. 9.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 6 pages, 7.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17355920&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot written statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17423191&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Katie%20Waito%20Written%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Pilot memorandum for record (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17441764&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Katie%20Waito%20MOR-Rel.pdf - Student pilot written statement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17422187&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cody%20Harkins%20Written%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Student pilot memorandum for record (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17441884&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cody%20Harkins%20MOR-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17440897&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Dan%20WIlliams%20MOR-Rel.pdf - Reports from local agencies - police report (item 7, PDF, 8 pages, 435 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17364573&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Report%202400124_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 8, PDF, 5 pages, 514 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17255033&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.