# NTSB CEN20CA359: Piper PA28, N8267N, Corsicana, TX, August 21, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 21, 2020, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Corsicana, TX
- Coordinates: 32.027548, -96.398037 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0275&lon=-96.3980&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101850
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA359
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101850/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101850
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA359

## Probable cause

The student pilot did not maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff roll.

## 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 PA-28-140, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102802), [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 PA-28-140, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102802), [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 PA-28-140, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102802), [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 PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was practicing soft field takeoff procedures 0n runway 14. During the takeoff roll, the pilot lost control of the airplane and the tail of the airplane hit the ground. The stall warning horn sounded, and the pilot reported that he was overwhelmed by the situation. He was unable to regain control of the airplane as it departed the left side of the runway. The pilot aborted the takeoff, however the airplane’s right wing collided with an airport sign resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane before the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8267N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8267N), registered now, S/N 28-25480, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (140)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-25480
- Year built: 1969
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Private Individual
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CRS, C David Campbell Field-Corsicana Muni, runway 14, 5,004 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 43 total, 42 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KCRS

## 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 20200821013679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200821013679A), Aug 21, 2020: Piper PA-28-140, Corsicana, TX, Substantial damage. During takeoff aircraft veered off the left side of runway and struck a runway sign.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101850. 228 KB in all.

- Case notes (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11753842&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Case%20Notes%20CA359-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11754137&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN20CA359%202%20PHOTOS-Rel.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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