# NTSB CEN21LA229: Piper PA-28-140, N15033, Washington Court House, OH, May 20, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 20, 2021, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Washington Court House, OH - Coordinates: 39.5704, -83.4172 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5704&lon=-83.4172&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 103125 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA229 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103125/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103125 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA229 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a soft field takeoff. ## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); 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) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; 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) ## 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: 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) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was performing a soft-field takeoff in preparation for his upcoming private pilot checkride when after the nose wheel lifted off the runway, the airplane yawed to the left. He applied right rudder in an attempt to maintain control; however, when a runway excursion seemed imminent, he applied full brake pressure on both pedals. The airplane veered “sharply” to the left, exited the runway, and impacted a ditch before coming to rest in an adjacent field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that attempting to steer the airplane back toward the runway centerline and not applying the brakes might have prevented the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N15033](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N15033), registered now, S/N 28-7225556, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&GO-145C series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-go-145c-series) (registry code 41503, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7225556 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 7785 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 19, 2021, 47 hours before - Departed: I23, Washington Court House, OH - Airport: I23, Fayette County, runway 23, 5,097 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review March 22, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 47 total, 47 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.50 inHg - Observed at: I23, 0.5 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 20210520006249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210520006249A), May 20, 2021: Piper PA-28-140, Washington Cour, OH, Substantial damage. Statement received by ops inspector [privacy data omitted] cvg GL05 office 01-JUN-2021. On may 20, 2021, at approximately 7:45 p.m. eastern daylight time (2345… ## Other investigations on N15033 (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 MIA77DLA20](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77DLA20), Mar 19, 1977: Piper PA-28 (N15033), Lake City, FL, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103125. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12346377&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Rpt%20--%20CEN21LA229_redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 699 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12346283&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN21LA219-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.