# NTSB ERA23LA217: Piper PA28R, N3796T, Defuniak Springs, FL, May 4, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 4, 2023, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Defuniak Springs, FL - Coordinates: 30.733363, -86.155192 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7334&lon=-86.1552&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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): 107814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107814/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107814 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA217 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taking off in a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a berm. Contributing was the automated weather briefing which failed to include accurate wind information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/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-28R-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Availability of related info (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot listened to the recorded weather information then took off on the airport’s only paved runway with a direct crosswind of about 5 kts. He described that during the initial climb, the airplane encountered either a downdraft or increasing wind over trees next to the runway that resulted in the airplane rolling left. The pilot attempted to counteract the roll; however, the airplane settled off the sloped left side of the runway, impacted a berm, bounced up, and came to rest on the taxiway. The left wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident communication with the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that the airport manager’s weather reporting system included gusting wind that was not reported by the automated weather system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3796T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3796T), registered now, S/N 28R-30109, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R (180) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-30109 - Year built: 1967 - Engines: Lycoming IO360SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 11, 2023 - Airport: 54J, DeFuniak Springs Airport, runway 9, 4,146 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 4, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 944 total, 815 in this make and model, 936 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: CEW, 19 nm away - METAR: KCEW 041653Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 27/06 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP165 T02670056 ## 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 20230504005499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230504005499A), May 4, 2023: Piper PA-28R-180, Defuniak Spring, FL, Destroyed. Airman states that just after departure from runway 9 and when he was only ten feet in the air with the gear still down, his right wing caught a wind gust from… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107814. 4.5 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=15447387&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Signed%20Flattened_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15443803&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA217%20MOR%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15443928&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA217%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Reported wind data (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 337 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15453601&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Area%20Weather%20Reports-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.