# NTSB ERA10CA152: Piper PA-28-180, N5212L, Patillas, PR, February 24, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 24, 2010, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Patillas, PR
- Coordinates: 17.982221, -66.019447 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=17.9822&lon=-66.0194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 17, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75414
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75414/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75414
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA152

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s decision to abort the takeoff with insufficient runway remaining.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The certificated flight instructor (CFI) stated that the student pilot was performing the takeoff. Upon reaching 65 knots, the student pilot panicked for no apparent reason and pulled the throttle back to abort the takeoff. The CFI knew that there was not enough runway remaining to safely stop, and took control of the airplane to continue the takeoff. The airplane was able to clear trees at the departure end of the runway, but the CFI stated that he was too low to gain airspeed or a positive rate of climb. The CFI elected to land in a river to avoid trees and rising terrain immediately ahead, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The certificated flight instructor (CFI) stated that the student pilot was performing the takeoff. Upon reaching 65 knots, the student pilot panicked for no apparent reason and pulled the throttle back to abort the takeoff. The CFI knew that there was not enough runway remaining to safely stop, and took control of the airplane to continue the takeoff. The airplane was able to clear trees at the departure end of the runway, but the CFI stated that he was too low to gain airspeed or a positive rate of climb. The CFI elected to land in a river to avoid trees and rising terrain immediately ahead, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5212L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5212L-2015-05-13), registration cancelled 2015-05-13, S/N 28-4504, built 1967 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-4504
- Airframe hours: 3494
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 31, 2009
- Departed: X64, Patillas, PR
- Destination: X64, Patillas, PR
- Airport: X64, Patillas Airport, runway 10, 2,000 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; student; seat: left; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model
- Flight instructor; age 63; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 22,000 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: TJSJ, 27 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 20100224028819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100224028819A), Feb 24, 2010: Piper PA-28-180, Patillas, PR, Substantial damage. While departing runway 10, VFR conditions in a Piper PA-28-180, sn 28-4504, registration number N5212L on or about 0930 local, February 24, 2010, [privacy data…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 12, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75414. 354 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 310 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326660&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record with CFI (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326702&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20with%20CFI-Master.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.

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