# NTSB CEN23LA119: Piper PA-28-140, N1700T, Martinsville, IN, February 23, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 23, 2023, 11:48 local (16:48 UTC) - Place: Martinsville, IN - Coordinates: 39.451437, -86.328325 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4514&lon=-86.3283&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - 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, Indianapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106770 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106770/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106770 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA119 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate weather evaluation and failure to abort the takeoff that resulted in an impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); 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 attempted a short field takeoff from a grass airstrip at the time of the accident. During the airplane’s takeoff roll, the passenger, who was seated in the left pilot seat, said that the windsock was “inconsistent.” At an airplane speed of 45-50 mph, the pilot applied control back pressure to ease the airplane into ground effect. The airplane became airborne but quickly settled back onto the runway and became airborne again. The airplane airspeed did not increase and remained at 40 mph. The pilot asked the passenger to continue to read the airspeed indications as the pilot realized that they were running out of remaining runway. The pilot reduced some of the control back pressure and pushed the airplane nose down out of fear of an aerodynamic stall and in hopes of increasing airspeed. The airplane descended and impacted the ground about 100 yds south of the departure runway and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage that included damage to the right wing, aileron, and empennage. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. Recorded weather observations, north and northeast and 15-16 nm from the airport, indicated a quartering tailwind relative to the runway direction prevailed at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1700T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1700T-2023-09-18), registration cancelled 2023-09-18, S/N 28-7125017, built 1970 (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: 28-7125017 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 3179 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2A 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 12, 2022 - Destination: 2R2, Danville, IN - Airport: II87, Twelve Oaks Airport, runway 17, 2,140 × 35 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 28, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 756 total, 365 in this make and model, 658 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 19 knots, gusting 27 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: IND, 16 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 20230223001529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230223001529A), Feb 23, 2023: Piper PA-28-140, Martinsville, IN, Substantial damage. On February 23, 2023 at approximately 11:48 eastern time, the pilot rotated at 45-50 mph and never went above 40 mph while attempting to takeoff on runway 17… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106770. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15176483&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15175908&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20statement%20N1700T%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo log (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 326 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15176537&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Log-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.