- Date
- October 29, 2009, 19:31 local (Oct 30, 2009, 02:31 UTC)
- Place
- Angwin, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1721TPiper PA-28-140
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Wrong surface or wrong airport
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report March 3, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20091029021689A
- Case key
- 74976
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 pilot's failure to properly identify the runway surface for takeoff and his subsequent failure to abort the takeoff when he realized he was not on the runway. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to select the appropriate radio frequency to activate the runway lights.
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 pilot reported that he positioned the airplane for the night takeoff approximately 1/4-mile from the start of Runway 34. He attempted to activate the runway lights using the radio; however, he had selected an incorrect frequency. He used his landing light and positioned the airplane where he believed the runway was located. As the airplane approached 65 miles per hour, he saw grass and dirt. His passenger requested that he stop the airplane; however, the pilot felt that his options were better if he continued the takeoff. The passenger continued to request that he stop the airplane and the groundspeed was about 80 miles per hour. The pilot further reported that the passenger’s seat was positioned further back than his and that the passenger was pulling the yoke aft and her feet were pushing on the rudder pedals. The airplane then impacted a fence. Later activation of the airport lighting system revealed no operational anomalies when the correct radio frequency was selected.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he positioned the airplane for the night time takeoff approximately 1/4-mile from the start of runway 34. He attempted to activate the runway lights using the radio; however, he had selected an incorrect frequency. He used his landing light and positioned the airplane where he believed the runway was located. As the airplane approached 65 miles per hour, he saw grass and dirt. His passenger requested that he stop the airplane but in his opinion, he felt his options were better if he continued the takeoff. The passenger continued to request that he stop the airplane and the groundspeed was about 80 miles per hour. The pilot further reported that the passenger’s seat was positioned farther back than his and that the passenger was pulling the yoke aft and her feet were pushing on the rudder pedals. The airplane then impacted a fence. Later activation of the airport lighting system revealed no operational anomalies when the correct radio frequency was selected.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1721T
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7125034
- Airframe hours
- 2,300
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Lee Mize
- Registered owner
- Lee Mize
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 2008
- Departed
- 2O3 · Angwin, CA
- Destination
- AUN · Auburn, CA
- Airport
- 2O3 · Angwin-Parrett Field Airport, runway 34, 3,217 × 50 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
- Pilot
- Age
- 75
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,800 total · 1,600 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- STS, 19 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 966 KB 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 N1721T · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.