# NTSB CEN10CA375: Piper PA32, N106C, Albuquerque, NM, July 6, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 6, 2010, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.037223, -106.605552 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0372&lon=-106.6056&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: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Albuquerque FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76551
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA375
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76551/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76551
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA375

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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 PA32-301FT, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103300), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA32-301FT, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103300), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 PA32-301FT, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103300), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA32-301FT, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103300), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA32-301FT, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103300), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Hazardous material leak/spill](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/450); cases with it: [Piper PA32-301FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/450/sequence.md?model=7103300), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/450/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was taking off to the east with winds at the time of the accident from 060 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot said the airplane made a sudden hard turn to the left just before liftoff. He applied right rudder and right brake but the airplane drifted off of the left side of the runway and the right wing impacted a runway marker sign 130 feet to the left of the runway centerline. The impact caused substantial damage to the right wing, aileron, flap and stabilator. The fuel tank in the right wing ruptured and there was a substantial fuel spill, but no post-impact fire. The pilot and his three passengers were not injured and exited the airplane unassisted. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the scene and examined the airplane reported that there were no anomalies with the brake system, nosewheel steering, or flight controls.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was taking off to the east on a 13,793 feet long by 150 feet wide concrete runway. The winds reported at the time of the accident were from 060 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot said the airplane made a sudden hard turn to the left just before liftoff. He applied right rudder and right brake but the airplane drifted off of the left side of the runway and the right wing impacted a runway marker sign 130 feet to the left of the runway centerline. The impact caused substantial damage to the right wing, aileron, flap and stabilator. The fuel tank in the right wing ruptured and there was a substantial fuel spill, but no post-impact fire. The pilot and his three passengers were not injured and exited the airplane unassisted. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the scene and examined the airplane reported that there were no anomalies with the brake system, nose wheel steering, or flight controls.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N106C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N106C-2023-01-14), registration cancelled 2023-01-14, S/N 3232039 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32 (301FT)
- Registry model: [Piper PA32-301FT](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa32-301ft) (registry code 7103300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-k1g5d) (registry code 41598, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3232039
- Airframe hours: 872
- Engines: LYCOMING IO540 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 6, 2010, 21 hours before
- Departed: ABQ, Albuquerque, NM
- Destination: TPL, Temple, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ABQ, Albuquerque Intl Sunport Airpo, runway 08, 13,793 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 6, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,665 total, 872 in this make and model, 1,665 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ, 1 nm away

## 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 20100706039659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100706039659A), Jul 6, 2010: Piper PA32-301FT, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. On July 6, 2010 at 0800 MDT, N106C, a Piper PA-32-301FT, sustained substantial damage when it departed the left side of runway 8 at Albuquerque international…

## Other investigations on N106C (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 ERA15LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA019), Oct 16, 2014: Piper PA32 301FT (N106C), Winona, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of directional control during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 16, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76551. 946 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 946 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333448&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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