# NTSB CEN21LA197: Piper PA28, N7114C, Faribault, MN, April 22, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 22, 2021, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Faribault, MN - Coordinates: 44.329, -93.3131 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3290&lon=-93.3131&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102970 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA197 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102970/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102970 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA197 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain control during takeoff in gusty wind conditions and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the airplane colliding with trees and subsequently the ground. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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-28-181, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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 in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, while the student pilot was conducting his fourth takeoff during his first flight lesson, the airplane encountered a wind gust and entered a “sharp” left turn toward a tree line. The flight instructor took control of the airplane, verified the throttle was at full power, and adjusted the airplane’s pitch for best angle of climb airspeed. He thought the airplane had cleared the trees; however, the aft fuselage or empennage struck some branches causing the airplane to lose airspeed. The airplane entered a descent and impacted a field on the other side of the tree line. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, and the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the student pilot was taking off on runway 30 with wind from 270o at 11 knots with gusts to 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7114C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7114C), registered now, S/N 2843913, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (181) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102832) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4M](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4m) (registry code 42276, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2843913 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 890.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: AV8 Flight School - Registered owner: AV8 Flight Assets LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 24, 2021, 48.4 hours before - Departed: FCM, Eden Prairie, MN - Airport: FBL, Fairbault Muni, runway 30, 4,257 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 14, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 710 total, 460 in this make and model, 648 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 34; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1 total, 1 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: FCM, 0.3 nm away ## 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 20210422005509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210422005509A), Apr 22, 2021: Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28-181, Faribault, MN, Substantial damage. 2021-04-22 N7114C first flight with a new student pilot while performing touch-n-go?s at kfbl, Faribault stalled and landed in a farm field approximately 1/3… ## Other investigations on N7114C (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN23LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA092), Jan 23, 2023: Piper PA-28 (N7114C), Eden Prairie, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and ground impact. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102970. 12.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 8.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12237975&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN21LA197_redacted-Rel.pdf - Student pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12241064&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Stmt%20--%20Todd%20Guyette-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 413 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12240936&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements_redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12240598&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN21LA197-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.