- Date
- August 24, 2022, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place
- Liberty, MO
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1815JPiper PA28
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20220824015039A
- Case key
- 105798
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 flight instructor’s improper decision to take off without adequate airspeed which resulted in degraded performance and a collision with trees.
Findings · 2
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
While on the takeoff roll from a stop-and-go landing, the flight instructor scanned the instruments and noticed that the airspeed indicator was at zero. He perceived that the engine was producing full power and that the airplane had “enough lift” but the airspeed needle was not moving. He considered aborting the takeoff but determined there was insufficient runway to stop. The airspeed needle began to move, and the flight instructor rotated the airplane for takeoff. The airplane would not climb, so he banked the airplane to maneuver around trees at the end of the runway. The airplane collided with the trees which resulted in substantial damage to the wing and fuselage. The flight instructor indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions that contributed to the accident. The flight instructor indicated that they started the takeoff roll with about 1,300 ft of runway. Airfield information put 63 ft trees 500 ft from the end of the runway. Performance calculations revealed that to clear a 50 ft obstacle, a 2,000 ft takeoff distance was required.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1815J
- Reported as
- Piper PA28 (140)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-24244
- Built
- 1968
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- DR-SE Flight Services
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MKC · Kansas City, MO
- Destination
- 0N0 · Liberty, MO
- Airport
- 0N0 · Roosterville, runway 18, 2,780 × 20 ft, concrete
- Equipment
- ADS-B
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 3, 2022
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- None
- Flight hours
- 772 total · 70 in this make and model · 420 as pilot in command · 50.2 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 5.2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 21
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 66.9 total · 3.3 in this make and model · 6.7 as pilot in command · 14.1 in the last 90 days · 2.1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- KGPH, 7 nm away
- METAR
- METAR KGPH 241555Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 26/18 A3007 RMK AO2=
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 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.