# NTSB CEN22LA385: Piper PA-28-140, N55338, Sparta, MI, August 10, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 10, 2022, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Sparta, MI · rejected takeoff / runway overrun / impacted perimeter fence
- Coordinates: 43.12951, -85.67947 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1295&lon=-85.6795&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105735
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA385
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105735/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105735
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA385

## Probable cause

The pilot’s delayed decision to reject the takeoff, resulting in a runway excursion and impact with a fence.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); 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 pilot reported that after liftoff, the airplane did not seem to be accelerating. She pushed the nose down to accelerate in ground effect; however, the airplane was approaching the end of the runway and, in her judgement, may not have had sufficient altitude to clear a line of trees. The pilot decided to reject the takeoff. After touching down, she “immediately” applied full brakes but was unable to stop before the airplane departed the end of the runway. It continued into the grass and impacted the airport perimeter fence. A postaccident engine examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with an inability to produce rated power. The airplane was loaded within the specified gross weight and center-of-gravity limits and the runway length was sufficient based on published performance data. The pilot noted that factors adversely affecting airplane takeoff performance were the elevated density altitude, the near-maximum airplane gross weight, the upsloping runway, and the additional altitude required to clear the tree line. She added that a short field takeoff procedure may have provided additional climb performance and clearance from the tree line. Although the published airplane performance indicated the takeoff could have been completed safely, the pilot prudently decided to reject the takeoff when the obstacle clearance was in doubt. The decision was made without sufficient runway available to land and resulted in the runway excursion and impact with the airport perimeter fence.

## Factual narrative

On August 10, 2022, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N55338, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Sparta, Michigan. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that after liftoff, the airplane did not seem to be accelerating. She pushed the nose down to accelerate in ground effect; however, the airplane was approaching the end of the runway and, in her judgement, may not have had sufficient altitude to clear a line of trees. The pilot decided to reject the takeoff. After touching down, she “immediately” applied full brakes but was unable to stop before the airplane departed the runway pavement. It continued into the grass and impacted the airport perimeter fence. The airframe sustained damage to the right wing during the impact. A postaccident engine examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with an inability to produce rated power. In addition, the pilot stated that there was no mechanical failure or malfunction associated with the airplane. She noted that factors adversely affecting airplane takeoff performance were density altitude, airplane gross weight, an upsloping runway, and the additional altitude required to clear the tree line. The preflight weight and balance calculation provided by the pilot indicated a gross takeoff weight of 2,072 lbs and a center-of-gravity location of 90.405 inches. This was within the allowable loading envelope for the airplane. At the time of the accident, the calculated density altitude was about 1,674 ft. Airplane performance data indicated the expected takeoff performance was about 900 ft ground roll, 2,000 ft required to clear a 50-foot obstacle, and an initial climb rate of 550 feet per minute.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55338](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55338), registered now, S/N 28-7325370, built 1973 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7325370
- Year built: 1973
- Airframe hours: 3050.4
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: West Michigan Flight Academy, doing business as N/A
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 8, 2022, 75.1 hours before
- Departed: 8D4, Sparta, MI
- Destination: 8D4, Sparta, MI
- Airport: 8D4, Paul C Miller - Sparta, runway 25, 4,032 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 2, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 333 total, 67 in this make and model, 284 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: KGRR, 16 nm away
- METAR: METAR KGRR 101453Z 24007KT 220V300 10SM FEW030 23/16 A3017

## 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 20220810014369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220810014369A), Aug 10, 2022: Piper PA-28-140, Sparta, MI, Substantial damage. On August 10, 2022 at 10:45 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Piper PA-28-140 aircraft, [privacy data omitted] 14 CFR 91 flight school and operated by a certified…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105735. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 590 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14331660&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN22LA385_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 260 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14332278&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20--%20CEN22LA385-Rel.pdf
- Conversation summary -- mechanic (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14331791&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20Bruce%20Temple%20--%2015Aug2022-Rel.pdf
- Weight & balance calculation -- accident flight (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 476 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14332774&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weight%20%26%20Balance%20--%20N55338-Rel.pdf
- Density altitude calculation (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14342047&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Density%20Altitude%20--%208D4_10Aug2022-Rel.pdf
- Airplane owner's manual -- PA-28-140 (excerpt) (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14349807&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airplane%20Owner%27s%20Manual%20--%20PA28-140%20(Excerpt)-Rel.pdf
- FAA chart supplement -- paul c miller-sparta airport (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14342311&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Chart%20Supplement%20--%20PaulCMiller-Sparta%20Arpt-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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