- Date
- January 14, 2010, 06:10 local (10:10 UTC)
- Place
- Collegedale, TN
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N43421Piper PA-28-140
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report May 6, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100114026809A
- Case key
- 75268
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 during the initial climb after takeoff in dark light conditions.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The airplane was departing from runway 3, a 4,700-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway, during night visual meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that he lost sight of outside visual references after takeoff due to darkness, and that he was not initially aware that the airplane was turning to the left. He added that he momentarily "did not pay attention" to the airplane's instruments, and that when he realized that the airplane was turning it was "too late." The airplane struck trees located off the left side of the runway, and impacted the ground. After the pilot exited a postcrash fire substantially consumed the airplane. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot's logbook was consumed by fire.
Factual narrative
The airplane was departing from runway 3, a 4,700-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway, during night visual meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that he lost sight of outside visual references after takeoff, due to darkness, and he was not initially aware that the airplane was turning to the left. He added that he momentarily "did not pay attention" to the airplane's instruments, and when he realized that the airplane was turning, it was "too late." The airplane struck trees located off the left side of the runway, and impacted the ground. After the pilot exited, a post crash fire substantially consumed the airplane. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot's logbook was consumed by fire. He estimated that his total flight experience was 110 hours, which included 10 hours flight in "night" conditions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N43421
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7425365
- Airframe hours
- 4,940
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-320 SERIES, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Gospel Ministries International
- Registered owner
- Gospel Ministries International
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 1, 2009
- Departed
- FGU · Collegedale, TN
- Destination
- APT · Jasper, TN
- Airport
- FGU · Collegedale, runway 03, 4,700 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 24
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 115 total · 110 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 21 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.29 inHg
- Observed at
- CHA, 9 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 19, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 614 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.