# NTSB WPR25LA142: Piper PA28, N15984, West Jordan, UT, April 15, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 15, 2025, 14:35 local (20:35 UTC) - Place: West Jordan, UT - Coordinates: 40.617875, -111.9965 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6179&lon=-111.9965&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office SLC - NTSB case key (mKey): 200053 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200053/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200053 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA142 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot inadvertently using a runway that resulted in a tailwind condition and the flight instructors delayed remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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 on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/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 during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student were performing a simulated soft-field takeoff from a paved runway. During the takeoff roll, the airplane rotated at about 65 mph, and began to drift left of the runway centerline. The student pilot then lowered the nose, and the airplane settled back onto the runway. The student then attempted to abort the takeoff and reduced the power to idle as the airplane exited the left side of the runway and struck a directional sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Winds at the time of the accident were recorded to be 10 knots at 340°, about 20 minutes prior to the accident were recorded to be variable at 6 knots, and about 40 minutes before the accident, the winds were 11 gusting to 16 knots at 150°. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N15984](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N15984), registered now, S/N 28-7325218, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (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: 28-7325218 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 3300.95 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Nightline Air - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 2, 2025 - Airport: SVR, South Valley Regional Airport, runway 16, 5,862 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 48; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 113.1 total, 22 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 40; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 12, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 778 total, 316.1 in this make and model, 661.9 as pilot in command, 100.1 in the last 90 days, 16.6 in the last 30 days, 4.9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KU42, 0.25 nm away - METAR: KU42 152035Z AUTO 34009KT 10SM CLR 22/M03 A3008 RMK AO2 ## 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 20250415004489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250415004489A), Apr 15, 2025: Piper PA-28-140, West Jordan, UT, Substantial damage. Flight instructor and the student were practicing for the students check ride. The flight instructor had the student practice a soft field takeoff. During the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 11, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200053. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18983913&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 4 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18983109&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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.