# NTSB CEN23LA234: Piper PA-28-181, N771ND, Grand Forks, ND, May 28, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 28, 2023, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Grand Forks, ND - Coordinates: 47.947587, -97.166226 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9476&lon=-97.1662&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) - 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: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192337 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192337/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192337 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA234 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to attain a proper takeoff attitude while demonstrating a soft field takeoff and his improper control inputs resulting in a dragged wing. Contributing to the accident were the gusting wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot; 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) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and his student were performing a soft field take off following a touch-and-go landing. The operator reported that the airplane started to drift to the left with a “higher than normal” pitch attitude and the airplane encountered a wind gust. The right wing dropped and contacted the runway surface. According to the flight instructor, during the take-off, the student “instantly” applied right aileron, instead of right rudder, to maintain the runway centerline. The flight instructor took over controls and continued the takeoff. While in the traffic pattern, the flight instructor noticed an “abnormality” on the right wing and landed the airplane without further incident. A visual inspection found that the right aileron sustained substantial damage. The operator stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident wind was recorded as 160° at 17 knots with gusts to 29 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N771ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N771ND), registered now, S/N 2881036, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102832) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-B4A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-b4a) (registry code 41867, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2881036 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 4706 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: University Of North Dakota - Registered owner: University Of North Dakota - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, May 12, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: GFK, Grand Forks Intl, runway 17L, 3,900 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Video recording device, ADS-B, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 11, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 780 total, 742 in this make and model, 532 as pilot in command, 137 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 9, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 75 total, 75 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 17 knots, gusting 29 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KGFK, 1 nm away - METAR: KGFK 281753Z 16017G29KT 10SM FEW150 30/04 A2994 RMK AO2 PK WND 14030/1721 SLP136 T03000039 10306 20161 56011 $,M ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192337. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15695341&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 263 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15694313&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Instructor's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15743255&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSBN771NDStatementMillett-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.