# NTSB MIA02LA140: Piper PA-28-161, N9284H, Okeechobee, FL, July 24, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 2002, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Okeechobee, FL - Coordinates: 27.262777, -80.849723 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2628&lon=-80.8497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 55334 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55334/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55334 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA140 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2841256 - Airframe hours: 8396 - Engines: 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. - 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 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55334. 487 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 286 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463539&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies (item 2, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40170839&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40170841&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Statement from Dottson L. Mills, Jr. (item 4, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40170843&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20from%20Dottson%20L.%20Mills,%20Jr.-Master.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.