- Date
- June 7, 2019, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Nowdoinham, ME
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7227FPiper PA28
- Defining event
- Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190607006049A
- Case key
- 99647
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The flight instructor's delayed decision to abort the takeoff from a wet, grass runway with insufficient runway remaining, which resulted in a runway overrun and the airplane going down an embankment.
Findings · 6
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The flight instructor reported that, while demonstrating a soft-field takeoff for a student pilot, he maintained full back pressure with the control yoke; lowered the flaps to 10°; lined up on the wet, grass, 1,900-ft-long runway; and added full power. He further noted that the airplane was not accelerating as anticipated due to the runway condition. The airplane lifted off about two-thirds of the way down the runway, and he decided that the airspeed of 65 mph was "not adequate." Additionally, he saw tall trees at the end of the runway, so he decided to abort the takeoff and land on the remaining runway. He added that he reduced power, that the airplane touched down, and that he applied the brakes but that, "due to the slick conditions," the airplane overran the runway and went down an embankment, and the right landing gear struck a rock hidden by the tall grass. The airplane continued across a gravel road and came to rest in a yard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the fuselage. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor reported that, while demonstrating a soft field takeoff for a student pilot, he maintained full back pressure with the control yoke, put in 10° of flaps, lined up on the wet, grass, 1,900 ft runway, and added full power. He further noted that the airplane was not accelerating as anticipated due to the runway conditions. The airplane lifted off about two-thirds of the way down the runway and he decided that the airspeed of 65 mph was "not adequate." Additionally, he saw tall trees at the end of the runway, so he decided to abort the takeoff and land on the remaining runway. He reduced power, the airplane touched down, and he applied the brakes. The airplane overran the runway, went down an embankment, and the right landing gear struck a rock hidden by the tall grass. The airplane continued across a gravel road and came to rest in a yard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7227F
- Reported as
- Piper PA28 (140)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-25139
- Built
- 1968
- Airframe hours
- 5,297.85
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 25, 2019
- Departed
- BXM · Brunswick, ME
- Destination
- 08B · Nowdoinham, ME
- Airport
- 08B · Merrymeeting Field, runway 14, 1,935 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 16, 2019
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 623.2 total · 306.2 in this make and model · 556.7 as pilot in command · 71.5 in the last 90 days · 54.7 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 25 total · 25 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KIWI, 8 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7227F · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.