- Date
- March 16, 2011, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place
- South St. Paul, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2816ZPiper PA-22-150
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 20, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA- Minneapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110316003799A
- Case key
- 78577
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll.
Findings · 1
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.
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 pilot reported that he was practicing a soft-field takeoff procedure. He stated that he started the takeoff roll with full engine power, full up elevator, and one notch of wing flaps. The airplane initially accelerated down the center of the runway, but as the airplane began to pitch upward it turned to the left. He attempted to correct with right rudder, but the airplane continued toward the left side of the runway. He stated that in a further attempt to regain control of the airplane he lowered the nose and reduced power. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, struck the precision approach path indicator lights, and then nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage including deformation of the wing struts and crushing of the wing leading edges.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was practicing a soft-field takeoff procedure. He stated that he started the takeoff roll with full engine power, full up elevator, and one notch of wing flaps. The airplane initially accelerated down the center of the runway, but as the airplane began to pitch upward it turned to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with right rudder but the airplane continued toward the left side of the runway. The pilot stated that in a further attempt to regain control of the airplane, he lowered the nose and reduced power. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, struck the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights, and then nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage including deformation of the wing struts and crushing of the wing leading edges. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no pre-impact anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2816Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-6818
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- SGS · South St. Paul, MN
- Destination
- SGS · South St. Paul, MN
- Airport
- SGS · South St Paul Municipal Airpor, runway 16, 4,002 × 100 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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 87 total · 87 in this make and model · 11 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- SGS
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 971 KB 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.