- Date
- June 15, 2012, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Sheboygan, WI
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N721SMPiper PA-28-181
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20120615010049A
- Case key
- 84019
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 during the takeoff roll.
Findings · 2
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
As the airplane accelerated through about 50 knots during the takeoff roll, the airplane's right wing began to lift. When the pilot attempted to lower the right wing, the airplane veered to the left and exited the left side of the runway. The airplane entered a ditch and came to rest upright and partially submerged in water. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
During takeoff from runway 21 at an airspeed of 50 knots, the airplane's right wing began to lift. When the pilot attempted to lower the right wing, the airplane veered to the left. The airplane continued to the left and exited the left side of the runway. The airplane entered a ditch and came to rest upright partially submerged in water. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N721SM
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-181
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2843337
- Airframe hours
- 2,505
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 5, 2012
- Departed
- SBM · Sheboygan, WI
- Destination
- 3CK · Lake in the Hil, IL
- Airport
- SBM · Sheboygan County Memorial, runway 21, 6,800 × 100 ft, concrete
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
- 42
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 79 total · 8 in this make and model · 32 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 698 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.