- Date
- July 24, 2002, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Okeechobee, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9284HPiper PA-28-161
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- Case key
- 55334
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 failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll following a short field approach and landing, resulting in the on-ground collision with a fence.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that after takeoff the flight proceeded to the Okeechobee County Airport where he performed a short field approach and landing to runway 22, then applied power for a touch-and-go landing. After applying power, he later reported feeling "small bouncing", and, turned quickly to the left." He reduced the throttle to idle and applied opposite rudder but the airplane departed the runway and rolled onto grass. While there, he applied the brakes "slowly" and attempted to recover but the left wing then the right wing collided with fence poles. The airplane came to rest upright. Several pilots in the traffic pattern at the time of the accident reported there was a light headwind from the right.
Factual narrative
On July 24, 2002, about 0900 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N9248H, registered to and operated by Flight Safety International, experienced a loss of directional control and collided with a fence during a touch-and-go landing at Okeechobee County Airport, Okeechobee, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 0740 from the Vero Beach Municipal Airport, Vero Beach, Florida.
The pilot stated that after takeoff the flight proceeded to the Okeechobee County Airport where he performed a short field approach and landing to runway 22, then applied power for a touch-and-go landing. After applying power, he later reported feeling "small bouncing and turned quickly to the left side." He reduced the throttle to idle and applied opposite rudder but the airplane departed the runway and rolled onto grass. While there, he applied the brakes "slowly" and attempted to recover but the left wing then the right wing collided with fence poles. The airplane came to rest upright.
Several pilots in the traffic pattern at the time of the accident reported there was a light headwind from the right.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9284H
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2841256
- Airframe hours
- 8,396
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D3AG, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Flight Safety International
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · July 22, 2002 · 8 hours before
- Departed
- KVRB · Vero Beach, FL
- Destination
- KOBE · Okeechobee, FL
- Airport
- KOBE · Okeechobee County, runway 22, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Injuries
- None
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 35 total · 35 in this make and model · 7 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.13 inHg
- Observed at
- KFPR, 29 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 487 KB in all.