- Date
- August 15, 1995, 19:15 local (Aug 16, 1995, 00:15 UTC)
- Place
- Champaign, IL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N381AVPiper PA-38-112
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 8, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950815028679A
- Case key
- 9997
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot lost directional control of the airplane during the takeoff portion of a touch and go landing. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway and contacted a runway sign with the left wing. Unaware that the sign had been contacted, the pilot continued the takeoff. Once airborne he noticed the damaged wing. He returned to the airport and an uneventful landing was made.
Factual narrative
On August 15, 1995, at 1900 central daylight time, a Piper PA-38, N381AV, collided with a runway intersection sign during takeoff at the Willard Airport, Champaign, Illinois. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated at Champaign, Illinois, on August 15, 1995, at 1845 cdt.
The pilot reported that during the takeoff portion on the second touch and go landing, directional control of the airplane was lost. He stated the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. He reported he regained directional control of the airplane at which time it contacted a runway sign near the intersection of runway 22R and 14R/32L. He stated he was unaware that he contacted the sign, and since he had regained control of the airplane and was at rotation speed, he took off. He reported that once he was airborne, he noticed the damage to the left wing. The pilot returned to the airport and made an uneventful full stop landing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N381AV
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38-112
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 38-78A0638
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- The Flightstar Corp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- CMI
- Destination
- CMI
- Airport
- CMI · Willard, runway 22, 6,500 × 150 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 22
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 74 total · 44 in this make and model · 41 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CMI
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.