- Date
- January 26, 2012, 14:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place
- Santa Barbara, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4297SPiper PA-28-181
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 2, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20120126001659A
- Case key
- 82757
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 did not maintain directional control during takeoff.
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
The pilot reported that, after aligning the airplane with the runway centerline and adding full power for takeoff, the airplane accelerated and then began to veer left. The pilot immediately added right rudder to correct for the deviation, but the airplane did not respond to the control input. He then reduced power to abort the takeoff, but, seeing runway signs in his path, he added full power again in an attempt to get airborne to avoid colliding with the signs. After becoming airborne, the airplane impacted a sign with its right main landing gear and right stabilator, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. Neither the pilot nor a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who examined the airplane after the accident, reported any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that after aligning the airplane with the runway centerline and adding full power, the airplane accelerated and then began to veer to the left. The pilot further said that he immediately added right rudder to correct for the deviation but the airplane did not respond to the control input. The pilot stated that he then elected to abort the takeoff, but seeing runway signs in his path he added full power again in an attempt to get airborne to avoid colliding with the signs. After becoming airborne the airplane impacted an airport sign with its right main landing gear and right stabilator, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. Neither the pilot nor a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who examined the airplane after the accident, reported any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. The pilot added that he was using runway 25 at the time of the accident, that the wind was 250 degrees at 8 knots, and that there were no gust reported.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4297S
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-181
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-8390045
- Airframe hours
- 11,476
- Engine
- Lycoming O&VO-360 SER, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Marco A. Perez
- Registered owner
- Uaa International Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 9, 2011 · 82 hours before
- Departed
- SBA · Santa Barbara, CA
- Destination
- EMT · El Monte, CA
- Airport
- SBA · Santa Barbara Municipal, runway 25, 6,052 × 150 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
- 40
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 19, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 317 total · 272 in this make and model · 265 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SBA
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 21, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.8 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.