- Date
- August 10, 2013, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Poteau, OK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7811WPiper PA-28-180
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 5, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20130810015619A
- Case key
- 87722
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 application of excessive left rudder during the takeoff roll, resulting in a loss of directional control, his failure to correct the excursion with opposite rudder, and his failure to abort the takeoff in a timely manner.
Findings · 3
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 23-hour student pilot was attempting a soft field takeoff. He stated that he began the takeoff roll and applied full aft elevator control. As the nose came up and the airplane lifted off the ground, he lowered to nose slightly. He thought he may have applied too much left rudder because he noticed the airplane was headed towards the left side of the runway and grass. He reduced power and touched down on the runway. The airplane continued towards the grass. The pilot applied full power and the airplane continued the excursion. The pilot said he "froze" and was "just along for the ride." He could not recall any further details. The left wing, outboard of the fuel tank, was torn off and the right main landing gear was embedded in the right wing.
Factual narrative
The 23-hour student pilot was attempting a soft field takeoff. He stated that he began the takeoff roll and applied full aft elevator control. As the nose came up and the airplane lifted off the ground, he lowered to nose slightly. He thought he may have applied too much left rudder because he noticed the airplane was headed towards the left side of the runway and grass. He reduced power and touched down on the runway. The airplane continued towards the grass. The pilot applied full power and the airplane continued the excursion. The pilot said he "froze" and was "just along for the ride." He could not recall any further details. The left wing, outboard of the fuel tank, was torn off and the right main landing gear was embedded in the right wing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7811W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-1818
- Airframe hours
- 4,252
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- R. Evan Gallant
- Registered owner
- R. Evan Gallant
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 10, 2013
- Departed
- KRKR · Poteau, OK
- Destination
- KRKR · Poteau, OK
- Airport
- KRKR · Robert S. Kerr, runway 18, 4,006 × 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
- Student pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 23 total · 22 in this make and model · 23 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KFSM, 23 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.3 MB 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.