# NTSB ERA24LA113: Piper PA28, N650FT, Melbourne, FL, February 13, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 13, 2024, 18:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place: Melbourne, FL · MLB Airport
- Coordinates: 28.1013, -80.6451
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1013&lon=-80.6451&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-into takeoff position: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 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): 193798
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA113
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193798/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193798
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA113

## Probable cause

The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to correctly identify the runway centerline prior to initiating the nighttime takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a runway edge light and subsequent runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate monitoring of the pilot.

## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/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-28-181, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Taxi-into takeoff position: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); 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 pilot receiving instruction reported that after receiving clearance from the control tower to take off, he taxied onto the runway during nighttime conditions. As the airplane proceeded along the center of the taxiway, he mistook the right runway edge line for the runway centerline and attempted to take off. During the takeoff roll, the airplane impacted a runway edge light, and went into the grass area adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilator and the right wing during the accident. The pilot and the flight instructor reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N650FT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N650FT), registered now, S/N 2843710, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (181)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4M](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4m) (registry code 42276, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2843710
- Year built: 2013
- Airframe hours: 5758.6
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Florida Institute Of Technology, doing business as FIT Aviation, LLC
- Registered owner: Florida Institute Of Technology
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 13, 2024, 97.3 hours before
- Departed: MLB, Melbourne, FL
- Destination: SRQ, Sarasota, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MLB, Melbourne Orlando Intl, runway 09R, 10,181 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 30, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 177 total, 45 in this make and model, 88 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor; age 27; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 5, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,108 total, 274 in this make and model, 1,014 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 77 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 40° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: MLB
- METAR: KMLB 132353Z 04006KT 10SM CLR 17/13 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP167 T01720128 10239 20172 51027 $

## 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 20240213000529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240213000529A), Feb 13, 2024: Piper PA-28-181, Melbourne, FL, Substantial damage. On 02/13/2024, at 18:40 EST, a PA28-181 was attempting to depart rwy 09L at taxiway kilo at kmlb when the aircraft struck a runway edge light resulting in…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193798. 6.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16960043&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20NTSB%206120.1%20Accident%20Incident%20Report%203%20(excerpt%20from%20report)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Mor pilot interview (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16960053&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20MOR%20Pilot%20Interview-Rel.pdf
- Mor instructor statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16960939&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20MOR%20Instructor%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Mor instructor interview (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16961239&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20MOR%20Instructor%20Interview-Rel.pdf
- Mor - FAA inspector's statement (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16961347&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06%20MOR%20FAA%20Interview-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 832 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16961138&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=07%20Investigation%20Photos-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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