# NTSB ERA22LA143: Piper PA28, N5627W, Manassas, VA, March 2, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 2, 2022, 18:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place: Manassas, VA
- Coordinates: 38.725458, -77.516932 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7255&lon=-77.5169&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 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): 104723
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104723/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104723
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA143

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper left rudder input after power application during the touch-and-go landing which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with airport lighting equipment. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student.

## Findings

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

- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md)
- [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor reported that, during the takeoff portion of a touch-an-go landing, the student applied an “extreme amount” of left rudder and the airplane began to veer left and impacted a light with the wingtip, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The instructor stated that he was not guarding the rudder pedals and attempted to assume control of the airplane, but the event happened very quickly and there was not enough time to correct and center the airplane over the runway. The instructor stated that during debriefing later, the student indicated that he lost control of the rudder. Post-accident inspection of the rudder flight control system by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5627W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5627W), registered now, S/N 28-772, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (150)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-150) (registry code 7102804) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-772
- Year built: 1962
- Airframe hours: 4294
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2021, 22 hours before
- Airport: HEF, Manassas Regional Airport, runway 16L, 6,200 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 8, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 587 total, 210 in this make and model, 554 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 28; injuries: none; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 42 total, 2 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: HWY, 12 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 20220302003099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220302003099A), Mar 2, 2022: Piper PA-28-150, Manassas, VA, Substantial damage. At hef, student at controls for a normal takeoff, traffic pattern, touch and go, on 2nd touch and go student began to lose control of aircraft and added…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 2, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104723. 21.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - from flight instructor (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 10.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13614078&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20Fm%20CFI%204%201%202022_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - submitted by operator (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 10.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13725677&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20Master%20Form%20Submttd%20by%20Opertr_Recd%204%207%202022_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of NTSB conversations (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13613446&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversations_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Weather reports and records (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13615917&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Report%20%26%20Record-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - aircraft inspection results from federal aviation administration (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13613586&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Aircraft%20Examination%20by%20FAA-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photograph (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 622 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13615174&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photograph-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 476 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13615010&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Executed%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_Redacted-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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