# NTSB FTW00LA183: Piper PA-28-140, N55769, Ben Wheeler, TX, June 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 21, 2000, 06:25 local (11:25 UTC) - Place: Ben Wheeler, TX - Coordinates: 32.409557, -95.660469 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4096&lon=-95.6605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49490 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49490/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA183 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent stall of the aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During the takeoff/initial climb from the dry turf runway, the airplane experienced a loss of airspeed and stalled as it cleared the marked powerlines at the departure end of the runway. The airplane struck the ground with the right wing. Numerous attempts to contact the pilot were unsuccessful. To date a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120/1/2) has not been submitted to the Safety Board by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On June 21, 2000, at 0625 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, single-engine airplane, N55769, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the terrain following a loss of control during the takeoff/initial climb from a private grass airstrip near Ben Wheeler, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported to local authorities that the north/south runway had been mowed the day before the flight, and the runway was dry. Following the takeoff on the south runway, the pilot turned the airplane 10 degrees toward the left. The pilot recalled the climb airspeed at 65 knots and the power at 2,300-rpm. As the airplane cleared marked power lines at the departure end of the runway, there was a "loss of airspeed and a stall." The right wing dropped and the airplane struck the ground. The pilot reported the wind from 220 degrees at 7 knots. At 0553, the weather reported at Tyler, Texas, (25 nautical miles east of the accident site) was wind from 190 degrees at 11 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, a temperature of 25 degrees Celcius, and a broken cloud layer at 1,700 feet agl. The FAA inspector, responding to the site, found the outboard area of both wings bent upward. The fuselage was buckled, and engine mounts were bent. Numerous attempts by the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge to contact the pilot were unsuccessful. The original Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) mailed on June 22, 2000, to the pilot's address in the FAA records, was returned unclaimed. Subsequently, the pilot's address was verified via the U.S. Postal Service, and the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 was sent to the pilot on September 8, 2000, by certified mail. The certified mail was signed for on September 11, 2000; however, to date, the completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2 has not been submitted to the Safety Board. The Safety Board did not take possession of the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55769](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55769), registered now, S/N 28-7325482, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7325482 - Airframe hours: 4400 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph P. Urban - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: DTO, DENTON, TX - Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip, runway 18, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 190° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TYR, 25 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 20000621011379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000621011379A), Jun 21, 2000: Piper PA28140, Ben Wheeler, TX, No damage. (-23) On June 21, 2000, at 0625 CDT, a Piper-28-140 sustained substantial damaged when it impacted the ground shortly after takeoff from a grass strip in Ben… 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.