- Date
- March 20, 2012, 17:25 local (21:25 UTC)
- Place
- Indianapolis, IN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N8421RPiper PA-28-140
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration, Indianapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120320003199A
- Case key
- 83186
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 student pilot did not maintain directional control while practicing a soft-field takeoff.
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
During a solo flight, the student pilot completed 3 takeoffs and landings before attempting a soft-field takeoff. He stated that the airplane began to veer left as the nose gear lifted off the runway, which he attempted to correct with an application of right rudder. He noted that he was unable to regain directional control and decided to abort the takeoff; the airplane departed the left side of the runway and impacted a visual approach slope indicator and its associated power-supply box. The student pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Additionally, he noted that the accident could have been prevented had he maintained directional control with an increased input of right rudder in order to counteract the left-turning tendencies experienced during takeoff.
Factual narrative
On March 20, 2012, at 1725 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N8421R, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at Eagle Creek Airpark (KEYE), Indianapolis, Indiana. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Skyscrapers Aviation, LLC, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed about 1700. The student pilot reported that he had successfully completed 3 takeoff-and-landings before attempting a soft-field takeoff on runway 21. He stated that the airplane began to veer left as the nose gear lifted off the runway, which he attempted to correct with an application of right rudder. He noted that he was unable to regain directional control and decided to abort the takeoff. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and impacted a visual approach slope indicator and its associated power-supply box during the aborted takeoff. The left wing main spar sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. The student pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Additionally, he noted that the accident could have been prevented had he maintained directional control with an increased input of right rudder in order to counteract the left-turning tendencies experienced during takeoff. At 1753, the airport's automated surface observing system reported the following weather conditions: wind 160 degrees at 8 knots, gusting 16 knots; visibility 10 miles; sky condition clear, temperature 28 degrees Celsius; dew point 13 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.02 inches of mercury.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8421R
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-22298
- Airframe hours
- 2,913
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2A, 155 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Skyscrapers Aviation, LLC
- Registered owner
- Skyscrapers Aviation, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 5, 2011
- Departed
- KEYE · Indianapolis, IN
- Destination
- KEYE · Indianapolis, IN
- Airport
- KEYE · Eagle Creek Airpark, runway 21, 4,200 × 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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 29 total · 29 in this make and model · 2 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 8 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.02 inHg
- Observed at
- KEYE
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.