# NTSB ERA25LA251: Piper PA-22-135, N3228B, Elberta, AL, June 27, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 27, 2025, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Elberta, AL - Coordinates: 30.441864, -87.463868 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4419&lon=-87.4639&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2025 - 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): 200437 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA251 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200437/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200437 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA251 ## Probable cause Pilot’s decision to take off from a wet and unmaintained field that was unsuitable for airplane operations, resulting in a loss of control and subsequent nose over. Contributing was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete the flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personality/attitude: motivation/respond to pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/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-22-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was flying to the destination airport where a mechanic was scheduled to perform an annual inspection of the airplane (that was about to be overdue). While enroute, a storm had arrived over the destination airport, so the pilot diverted to what he thought was a private airstrip. As soon as the airplane touched down, he realized that it was not a maintained airstrip. The pilot waited for the storm to pass, then elected to resume the flight and attempted to take off. During the takeoff roll, he was forced to abort because of the wet and rough ground condition. He attempted a second takeoff from another part of the field that appeared smoother, but during the second takeoff attempt, about 1/3 of the way into the takeoff roll, the terrain got progressively wetter and muddier. The airplane began to skid left and right, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The left wing subsequently struck the ground which resulted in the airplane nosing over and coming to rest inverted. The pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane’s wings, rudder and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. He further stated that in retrospect, he had a “get-there-it is mentality” because of the airplane’s impending inspection deadline. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3228B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3228B), registered now, S/N 22-2057 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-2057 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 3409 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Eldorado Aircraft LLC - Registered owner: Eldorado Aircraft LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 17, 2024, 30 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PVT, Non-Airport Farmland - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,100 total, 300 in this make and model, 1,050 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 13,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: NPA, 9 nm away - METAR: KNPA 271456Z 33005KT 10SM FEW028 BKN130 BKN250 26/24 A3011 RMK AO2 RAE13 SLP197 T2 SET P0000 60015 T02610239 50004 ## 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 20250627009879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250627009879A), Jun 27, 2025: Piper PA-22-135, Elberta, AL, Substantial damage. The pilot attempted to take off from an unapproved field, but due to a recent rain event, the survace was wet and damp. The first attempt was unsuccessful. On… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200437. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19065005&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%206120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 743 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18959819&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PIC%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18959407&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs_N3228B-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.