Piper PA 28-180 N7781W

Summary

On 19 May 2016 at about 17:20 local time, a Piper PA 28-180 registered N7781W was involved in an accident near Batavia, New York, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 May 2016 at 17:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Batavia, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Genesee County (GVQ)

Coordinates

43.0292, -78.1650

Aircraft

Piper PA 28-180

Registration

N7781W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1964

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Akron → Batavia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA16LA192

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a collision with runway signs.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot successfully performed two touch-and-go landings and returned to the same runway to perform a third. He reported that, after a normal touchdown, he applied engine power, and at rotation speed the airplane veered to the left. He was unable to correct with right rudder input. The airplane subsequently traveled off the side of the runway and impacted signs, which resulted in damage to both left and right wing fuel tanks. The pilot continued the takeoff, and, after becoming airborne, noted fuel streaming from the left fuel tank; the engine subsequently experienced a total loss of power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane and landed uneventfully on a road. Postacccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Neither fuel tank contained fuel, and it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel exhaustion caused by the breaches of the fuel system.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.