# NTSB CEN26LA304: Piper PA-28-161, N47899, Hudson Oaks, TX, September 1, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 1, 2026, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Hudson Oaks, TX - Coordinates: 32.747417, -97.681817 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7474&lon=-97.6818&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 1, 2026 - 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): 203706 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA304 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203706/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203706 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA304 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during the rejected takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to abort the takeoff after the airplane had accelerated above its normal rotation speed. Also contributing to the accident was the flight school’s non-standard engine break-in takeoff procedure. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Policy/procedure: adequacy of policy/proc](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015): Organizational issues › Management · Operator (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015/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-28-161, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [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-28-161, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102803), [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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102803), [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-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to conduct the break-in of a newly installed engine and that this was his first engine break-in flight. Before departure, the pilot received a briefing from the chief flight instructor regarding the engine break-in procedures outlined in the school’s Engine Break-In Checklist. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, about 900 ft down the runway, he realized that the throttle was not in the takeoff position and advanced it full forward. About halfway down the runway, he evaluated that he would not reach his intended rotation speed of 75 knots and aborted the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, at 60 knots, the airplane briefly became airborne before settling back onto the runway. The airplane continued decelerating, but departed the runway surface near the runway 36 hold-short line and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The chief pilot and the owner/operator reported that the operator's engine break-in procedures required pilots to rotate at 75 knots and establish a shallow climb for better engine cooling. A review of the pilot operating handbook shows that a normal takeoff rotation speed is about 55 knots. A review of the Lycoming Service Instruction No. 1427C, Reciprocating Engine Break-In and Oil Consumption, directs operators to conduct a full-power takeoff in accordance with the applicable POH and does not specify an increased rotation speed for engine break-in operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47899](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47899), registered now, S/N 28-7816153, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7816153 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 7806 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Nationwide Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Nationwide Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 12, 2026, 8 hours before - Destination: KAQO, Llano, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KWEA, Parker County, runway 17/35, 2,892 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 19, 2026; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 403.8 total, 311.7 in this make and model, 305.7 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 24.6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KNFW, 12 nm away - METAR: METAR KNFW 011152Z 23003KT 10SM FEW080 FEW250 26/19 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP146 T02610189 10300 20261 53002 $ ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203706. 11.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 8.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20907785&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 593 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20925980&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pictures-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, owner operator (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 255 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20918566&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Owner%20MOR%20Original%20Docket_Redacted_image-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, chief pilot (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20908199&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Chief%20Pilot%20MOR_Redacted_image-Rel.pdf - Engine break-in checklist (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 751 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20908790&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Break%20In%20Checklist-Rel.pdf - Lycoming reciprocating engine break-in and oil consumption instruction no. 1427C (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20917842&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pages%20from%20Lycoming%20engine%20break-in%20procedures_image-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.