# NTSB WPR12LA165: Piper PA-28-140, N3583K, San Manuel, AZ, April 13, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 13, 2012, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: San Manuel, AZ - Coordinates: 32.63639, -110.647224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6364&lon=-110.6472&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 7, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83383 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83383/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83383 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA165 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after the airplane lifted off from the runway, it entered a left bank, impacted the ground, and veered diagonally away from the runway. The airplane exited the runway and crossed a median and taxiway before impacting an unoccupied parked airplane. Postaccident examination revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On April 13, 2012, about 1030 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N3583K, experienced a loss of control during takeoff, seconds after becoming airborne at the San Manuel Airport, San Manuel, Arizona. The airplane impacted the runway hard and collided with a parked airplane as it came to a stop. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot was not injured, and the passenger sustained a minor injury. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight. The airplane was registered to a private individual, and it was operated by PC Aircraft, in San Manuel. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he began what seemed to be a normal takeoff. The airplane lifted off a few feet, then dropped back onto the runway at an angle subsequently colliding with a parked airplane. A witness, who was at the airport, reported that he observed the airplane accelerate for takeoff from runway 11. Immediately after it lifted off the runway, the airplane entered a left bank towards the left side of the runway. The airplane bounced off the runway, traversed across a median and a taxiway before striking an unoccupied airplane and coming to rest about 2,500 feet from where the takeoff was initiated. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that the left wing was bent upward about a 45 degree angle starting by the wing root. In addition, no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3583K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3583K-2018-02-15), registration cancelled 2018-02-15, S/N 28-23642, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-23642 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: E77, San Manuel, AZ - Destination: E77, San Manuel, AZ - Airport: E77, San Manuel, runway 11, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 15, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 345 total, 144 in this make and model, 219 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: E77 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20120413005229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120413005229A), Apr 13, 2012: Piper PA-28-140, San Manueal, AZ, Substantial damage. While on takeoff, after becoming airborne, pilot lost control of the aircraft. At approximately five feet after becoming airborne, the left wing of the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 16, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83383. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Information (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 659 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370172&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 4, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370192&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Airplane Damage Photo (item 5, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Damage%20Photo-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.