# NTSB CEN23LA026: Piper PA-28-181, N787TF, Mesquite, TX, November 5, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 5, 2022, 08:12, time zone not recorded - Place: Mesquite, TX - Coordinates: 32.746963, -96.530417 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7470&lon=-96.5304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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: Federal Aviation Administration, North Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106254 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106254/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106254 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA026 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while taking off from a touch and go landing. ## 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-28-181, 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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 student pilot reported that he was performing a touch and go landing during a solo traffic pattern flight and had added full engine power for takeoff when he noticed the airplane had drifted right of the runway centerline and made a correction back by applying left rudder. The airplane then began oscillating and increased with each control input. Realizing that the airplane was not going to be able to takeoff safely, the student pilot aborted the takeoff. He continued to apply corrective directional control inputs, but the airplane departed the runway surface and impacted terrain in a field adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N787TF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N787TF), registered now, S/N 2881555, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-B4A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-b4a) (registry code 41867, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2881555 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 280.9 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B4A 181 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Excite Aircraft, Inc., doing business as Thrust Flight - Registered owner: Air Fleet Holding, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 2022 - Departed: ADS, Addison, TX - Destination: HQZ, Mesquite, TX - Airport: HQZ, Hqz, runway 36, 6,000 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 28 total, 28 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: HQZ ## 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 20221105013449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221105013449A), Nov 5, 2022: Piper PA-28-181, Mesquite, TX, Substantial damage. Student pilot departed kads to khqz for second local solo flight. The intended plan was to complete 3 touch and goes in the pattern at hqz then return to ADS.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106254. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14978236&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo log (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 574 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14974349&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-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.