# NTSB ERA21LA161: Piper PA-28-180, N24JN, West Chester, PA, March 21, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 21, 2021, 08:35 local (12:35 UTC) - Place: West Chester, PA - Coordinates: 39.989982, -75.578567 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9900&lon=-75.5786&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - 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): 102792 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102792/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102792 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA161 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with airport lights and a hangar. ## 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-28-180, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while on his takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left of the runway centerline when he glanced down to check the instruments. He corrected with right rudder to return to the center; however, he overcorrected and then added left rudder. Before he was able to correct, the airplane exited the left side of the runway and struck the precision approach path indicator lights, which breached the left fuel tank and ignited a fire in the left wing. The airplane subsequently crossed a taxiway, travelled down an embankment, and impacted a maintenance hangar. The pilot egressed through the right cockpit door and was able to extinguish the fire. The airplane’s left wing was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24JN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24JN-2022-02-25), registration cancelled 2022-02-25, S/N 28-4753, built 1968 (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: 28-4753 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 3904.1 - Engines: Lycoming O-360A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Brandywine Flight School - Registered owner: Brandywine Flight School - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 18, 2021, 22.4 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: OQN, Brandywine Rgnl, runway 09/27, 3,347 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 11, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 91 total, 5 in this make and model, 35 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.56 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Observed at: OQN ## 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 20210321001059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210321001059A), Mar 21, 2021: Piper PA-28-180, West Chester, PA, Substantial damage. On March 21, 2021 at approximately 8:30 EDT, Piper PA-28-180, registered as N24JN, began a take-off on runway 27 at Brandywine airport (oqn), West Chester, PA.… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102792. 9.5 MB in all. - Pilot aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12093635&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12093366&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Flight%20School_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statements (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 340 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12093312&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statements-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA inspector (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 201 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12093118&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-ROC%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf - Area weather reports (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12093322&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Area%20Weather%20Reports-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 6, PDF, 7 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12092936&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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. --- 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.