# NTSB ERA23LA193: Piper PA-28-181, N476TA, West Mifflin, PA, April 10, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 10, 2023, 19:20 UTC - Place: West Mifflin, PA - Coordinates: 40.354095, -79.94141 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3541&lon=-79.9414&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: 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): 107051 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107051/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107051 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA193 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s decision to abort the takeoff and land on the runway without sufficient runway remaining, which resulted in a runway overrun. ## 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-28-181, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: landing distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 68 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/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-28-181, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that this was her second solo flight. During takeoff, the airplane lifted off the runway but she felt it was not accelerating like it should and she elected to abort the takeoff. She landed the airplane on the remaining portion of runway, however it continued off the departure end, down an embankment, and came to rest in some bushes. The leading edges of the wings, fuselage, and the stabilator were all substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N476TA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N476TA), registered now, S/N 2881318 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2881318 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 2354 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Atp Taa LLC - Registered owner: Atp Taa LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 23, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: AGC, Allegheny County, runway 28, 6,000 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 53.6 total, 44.6 in this make and model, 42.7 in the last 90 days, 22.8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.33 inHg - Observed at: AGC, 1 nm away - METAR: KAGC 101953Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 19/M05 A3033 RMK AO2 SLP276 T01941050 ## 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 20230410006379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230410006379A), Apr 10, 2023: Piper PA-28-181, West Mifflin, PA, Substantial damage. Student pilot on second solo flight was cleared for takeoff on runway 28 at Allegheny County Airport. After becoming airborne, the student became nervous and… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107051. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15388727&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15387533&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-%20student%20pilot-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15388458&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s-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.