- Date
- August 21, 2012, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- McMinnville, OR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N8154NPiper PA-28-140
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 5, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20120821018179A
- Case key
- 84791
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 loss of directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Findings · 2
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 during the takeoff roll, he attempted to close a window vent and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. He aborted the takeoff and taxied back for takeoff; he examined the airplane before takeoff and did not see any damage. After landing, he secured the airplane in the club hangar. During a flying club meeting 4 days later, the pilot observed damage to the right wing; subsequent examination revealed substantial damage to the wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane before the runway excursion.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll he attempted to close a window vent and veered off the left side of the runway. He aborted the takeoff and taxied back for takeoff; he examined the airplane prior to takeoff and did not see any damage. After landing he secured the airplane in the club hangar. On August 25th during a flying club meeting the pilot observed damage to the lower section of the right wing and subsequent examination revealed substantial damage to the wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane prior to the runway excursion.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8154N
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-25348
- Airframe hours
- 4,952
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pacific Flyers Inc
- Registered owner
- Pacific Flyers Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 10, 2012 · 12 hours before
- Departed
- UAO · Aurora, OR
- Destination
- MMV · McMinnville, OR
- Airport
- MMV · McMinnville Municipal Airport, runway 22, 5,420 × 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
- 66
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 5, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 145 total · 47 in this make and model · 94 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- SLE, 18 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 579 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.