# NTSB DEN00LA112: Piper PA-28-180, N4948L, Loveland, CO, June 15, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 15, 2000, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Loveland, CO
- Coordinates: 40.409801, -105.069473 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4098&lon=-105.0695&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49447
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49447/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA112

## Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff roll.  A factor was lack of recent experience.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command

## Analysis

On initial takeoff roll during a student solo training flight, the aircraft departed the side of the runway and ground looped damaging both wings.  The pilot said he lost control of the aircraft during takeoff roll.  The pilot had flown 9 hours in the preceding 90 days and 3 hours in the preceding 30 days.  The wind was from 170 degrees magnetic at 5 knots and the runway used was 15.

## Factual narrative

On June 15, 2000, at 0800 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N4948L, sustained substantial damage when it departed the side of the runway during takeoff roll at Loveland/Fort Collins Municipal Airport, Loveland, Colorado. The student pilot and sole occupant was not injured.  The local area flight was operating as a student solo training flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

In his report of the accident, the pilot stated he had 45 hours total flight time and 27 hours in this make and model aircraft.  He said he had 9 hours flight time in the preceding 90 days and 3 hours in the preceding 30 days.

According to the pilot, he lost control of the airplane during takeoff roll and it departed the side of the runway and ground looped, which caused damage to both wings, the propeller, and the nose landing gear assembly.

At the time of the accident, the wind was from 170 degrees magnetic at 5 knots and the runway in use was runway 15.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4948L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4948L), registered now, S/N 28-4317 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-4317
- Airframe hours: 5454
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Owen Morgan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 2000, 30 hours before
- Departed: FNL
- Airport: FNL, Loveland/Fort Collins, runway 15, 8,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 45 total, 27 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FNL, 1 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 20000615010989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000615010989A), Jun 15, 2000: Piper PA28180, Fort Collins, CO, No damage. (-23) The student pilot was attempting a takeoff from runway 15 at fnl. According to the student pilot he lost directional control during acceleration, skidded…

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.

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