- Date
- May 24, 2008, 11:55 local (15:55 UTC)
- Place
- Vero Beach, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9245QPiper PA-28-161
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Orlando FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080524839499A
- Case key
- 68078
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 student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was a crosswind.
Findings · 3
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
According to the solo student pilot of the Piper PA-28-161, he initiated a takeoff on runway 29L, a 7,314-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. As the airplane reached an airspeed of 55 knots, he felt the right wing "drop toward the runway." The airplane pivoted to the left and departed the runway into the grass. The right wing and the right side of the nose section impacted a taxiway sign. The right main landing gear assembly separated from the airplane, damaging an adjacent wing rib. The student pilot and an instructor flew the airplane on the previous flight, practiced takeoffs and landings, and reported no anomalies with the airplane. The student pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies during the accident flight. The reported wind at the airport, about the time of the accident, was from 260 degrees at 9 knots.
Factual narrative
According to the solo student pilot of the Piper PA-28-161, he initiated a takeoff on runway 29L, a 7,314-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. As the airplane reached an airspeed of 55 knots, he felt the right wing "drop toward the runway." The airplane pivoted to the left and departed the runway into the grass. The right wing and the right side of the nose section impacted a taxiway sign. The right main landing gear assembly separated from the airplane, damaging an adjacent wing rib. The student pilot and an instructor flew the airplane on the previous flight, practiced takeoffs and landings, and reported no anomalies with the airplane. The student pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies during the accident flight. The reported wind at the airport, about the time of the accident, was from 260 degrees at 9 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9245Q
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2841251
- Airframe hours
- 11,204
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-03G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Flight Safety Academy
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · May 1, 2008
- Departed
- VRB · Vero Beach, FL
- Destination
- VRB
- Airport
- VRB · Vero Beach Municiple Airport, runway 29L, 7,314 × 100 ft, asphalt
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 26
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 54 total · 54 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.94 inHg
- Observed at
- VRB
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.