# NTSB ERA10CA368: Piper PA-32R-300, N38448, St. Petersburg, FL, July 15, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 15, 2010, 09:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: St. Petersburg, FL
- Coordinates: 27.768333, -82.624168 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7683&lon=-82.6242&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 7, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/ FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76700
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA368
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76700/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76700
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA368

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control while taking off with a crosswind.

## 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-32R-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Action: incomplete action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 105 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during takeoff the airplane began to slow down. He leveled the wings to maintain speed, but it continued to decrease. Shortly thereafter, the pilot noticed a slight crosswind, but did not correct too aggressively in an effort to avoid hitting the right wing tip on the runway. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff and the airplane touched down in the grass adjacent to the runway. The airplane continued into a dry pond, incurring substantial damage to the left wing. The weight and balance and performance calculations for the airplane revealed that at takeoff the airplane was near the maximum gross weight with a slightly forward center of gravity. Weather recorded at the airport about the time of the accident indicated that there was a 5-knot crosswind. The pilot reported no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during takeoff from runway 7, about 5 feet above the ground, the airplane began to “slow down.” He leveled the wings “to maintain speed, but it continued to bleed off.” About that time, the pilot noticed “a slight crosswind from the south, (but)… did not correct too aggressively” to avoid hitting the right wingtip on the runway. The pilot stated that he decided to abort the takeoff but allowed the airplane to continue to drift over the runway lighting. The airplane touched down in the grass left of the runway and continued into a “dry pond,” incurring substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot and four passengers sustained no injuries. Weight and balance and performance calculations for the airplane on the day of the accident,found the airplane to be near maximum gross weight and slightly forward of the center of gravity limitations at startup based on the information provided by the pilot. Weather, recorded at the airport about the time of the accident, included winds from 160 degrees true at 5 knots, and a temperature of 29 degrees Celsius. The pilot reported no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38448](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38448), registered now, S/N 32R-7780428, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7780428
- Airframe hours: 2235
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 4, 2010, 8 hours before
- Departed: SPG, St. Petersburg, FL
- Destination: YEM, Governors Harbo
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SPG, Albert Whitted Airport, runway 07, 3,677 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 30, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 339 total, 334 in this make and model, 245 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: SPG

## 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 20100715042669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100715042669A), Jul 15, 2010: Piper PA-32R-300, St Petersburg, FL, Substantial damage. On July 15, 2010, at 0945 EDT, a Piper PA-32R-300 lance, registered to erickson aviation, LLC, was damaged during an aborted takeoff at Albert Whitted Airport…

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76700. 2.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 578 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334253&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Miscellaneous: Aircraft Weight and Balance (item 2, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333907&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Aircraft%20Weight%20and%20Balance-Redacted.PDF
- Miscellaneous: Excerpt From the Airplane's Type Certificate Data Sheet (item 3, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334354&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Excerpt%20From%20the%20Airplane%27s%20Type%20Certificate%20Data%20Sheet-Master.PDF
- Miscellaneous: Pilot's Weight and Balance Calculation and Statement (item 4, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334353&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Pilot%27s%20Weight%20and%20Balance%20Calculation%20and%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Miscellaneous: NTSB Investigator's Weight and Balance Calculations (item 5, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20NTSB%20Investigator%27s%20Weight%20and%20Balance%20Calculations-Master.PDF
- Miscellaneous: Excerpts From the Airplane's Pilot Operating Handbook (item 6, .PDF, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Excerpts%20From%20the%20Airplane%27s%20Pilot%20Operating%20Handbook-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 7, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334378&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Miscellaneous: Excerpts From the Airplane's Maintenance Records (item 8, .PDF, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334379&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Excerpts%20From%20the%20Airplane%27s%20Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1) Side View of the Wreckage at Rest, Photo Provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (item 9, .PDF, 743 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334357&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201)%20Side%20View%20of%20the%20Wreckage%20at%20Rest,%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20the%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration-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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