# NTSB DEN08CA068: Piper PA-28-150, N50GM, Mankato, KS, March 28, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 28, 2008, 15:25 local (20:25 UTC) - Place: Mankato, KS - Coordinates: 39.133335, -98.033332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1333&lon=-98.0333&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 April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 67736 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08CA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67736/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08CA068 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing factors were the fence and trees. ## 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-28-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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-28-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the takeoff roll, the student pilot pulled back on the yoke to raise the nose wheel off the runway. He reported that "as the nose rose, I lost visual on the runway." The student pilot thought the main landing gear tires had lifted off the runway and he lowered the nose to increase speed in ground effect. He then realized the airplane had drifted off the right side of the runway. The airplane struck a fence and trees, and came to rest upright in a field. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, he was practicing a soft-field takeoff on runway 35. During the takeoff roll, he pulled back on the yoke to raise the nose wheel off the runway. He reported that "as the nose rose, I lost visual on the runway." The student pilot thought the main landing gear tires had lifted off the runway and he lowered the nose to increase speed in ground effect. He then realized the airplane had drifted off the right side of the runway. The airplane impacted a fence and trees, and came to rest upright in a grass field. The student pilot reported the wind was from the east at 5 knots. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. He stated he had accumulated 43.5 total flight hours. An examination of the airplane showed that the horizontal stabilizer was partially separated from the fuselage, and fuselage was buckled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50GM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50GM-2008-09-16), registration cancelled 2008-09-16, S/N 28-499, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-150) (registry code 7102804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-499 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: David S. Baird - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TKO, Mankato, KS - Destination: TKO, Mankato, KS - Airport: TKO, Mankato, runway 35 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 57; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 44 total, 44 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20080328013989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080328013989A), Mar 28, 2008: Piper PA28150, Mankato, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) While practicing a soft field takeoff at ktko, the pilot lost control of the aircraft and drifted right of the runway through a fence and into a pasture.… 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.