# NTSB ERA21LA049: Piper PA28, N9086W, Lititz, PA, November 20, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 19, 2020, 19:25 local (Nov 20, 2020, 00:25 UTC)
- Place: Lititz, PA · was on taxiway E, clrd for t/o rwy 13, attempted t/o from taxiway E
- Coordinates: 40.120973, -76.29914
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1210&lon=-76.2991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102324
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102324/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102324
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA049

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadvertent attempt to takeoff on a taxiway, rather than a runway, which resulted in a collision with a fence during takeoff.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane was standing at the hold short line for the runway at night. The pilot was cleared for takeoff and taxied toward the runway; however, he mistook a taxiway for the runway and attempted a takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane struck a fence and came to rest inverted. The airplane’s fuselage and left wing were substantially damaged. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9086W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9086W-2022-09-23), registration cancelled 2022-09-23, S/N 28-10690, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (235)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-10690
- Year built: 1965
- Airframe hours: 5858
- Engines: Lycoming O-540 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 26, 2020, 5 hours before
- Destination: DMW, Westminster, MD
- Airport: LNS, Lancaster Airport, runway 13, 4,102 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 84; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,347 total, 2,526 in this make and model, 3,220 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Observed at: LNS, 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 20201119014689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201119014689A), Nov 19, 2020: Piper PA-28-235, Lititz, PA, Destroyed. The pilot was attempting to conduct the return leg of a pleasure flight originating at carroll county airport (kdmw). Pilot stated he had dinner with friends…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102324. 3.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11657806&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Map of ground track (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 584 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11657681&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N9086W%20Path-Rel.pdf
- Photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 343 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11657597&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.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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