# NTSB CEN23LA196: Piper PA-28-181, N227XY, Kansas City, MO, May 22, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 22, 2023, 09:47 local (14:47 UTC) - Place: Kansas City, MO - Coordinates: 39.131738, -94.590283 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1317&lon=-94.5903&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: 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: FAA KC FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192224 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA196 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192224/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192224 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA196 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. ## 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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-28-181, 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) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was performing his seventh solo takeoff, when the tower controller cleared him for takeoff and told him to expedite due to other traffic. He added full throttle and looked down to check his airspeed; however, when he looked back up to the runway the airplane was left of the runway centerline. The student pilot applied right rudder and the airplane veered to the right. He then removed the right rudder input and the airplane “darted” to the left, exited the runway, and impacted a ditch and a runway sign. The airplane came to rest in the grass alongside of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wings. The student pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N227XY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N227XY), registered now, S/N 2881571, 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: 2881571 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 652.3 - Engines: Lycoming IO360-B4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: ATP Flight School, doing business as N/A - Registered owner: Meridian Aircraft LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 8, 2023, 60.6 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MKC, Charles B Wheeler Downtown, runway 19, 6,827 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 43 total, 43 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KMKC - METAR: METAR KMKC 221445Z 00000KT 10SM FEW055 20/13 A3010 RMK T02000130 ## 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 20230522007039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230522007039A), May 22, 2023: Piper PA-28-181, Kansas City, MO, Substantial damage. Pilot lost directional control during takeoff roll and exited runway into grass. Aircraft impacted runway sign. Airplane came to rest in the grass next to the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192224. 2.3 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=15692105&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N227XY%206120_1_Fillable_unlocked%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15691104&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA196%20Photo%20Array-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.