Piper PA28 N650FT

Summary

On 13 February 2024 at about 23:40 local time, a Piper PA28 registered N650FT, operated by Florida Institute of Technology, was involved in an accident near Melbourne, Florida, United States. 3 people were 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

13 February 2024 at 23:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Melbourne, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Melbourne Orlando Intl (MLB)

Coordinates

28.1013, -80.6451

Aircraft

Piper PA28

Registration

N650FT

Category

Airplane

Year built

2013

Engines

1

Operator

Florida Institute of Technology

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Melbourne → Sarasota

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA24LA113

Nobody was injured.

The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to correctly identify the runway centerline prior to initiating the nighttime takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a runway edge light and subsequent runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate monitoring of the pilot.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot receiving instruction reported that after receiving clearance from the control tower to take off, he taxied onto the runway during nighttime conditions. As the airplane proceeded along the center of the taxiway, he mistook the right runway edge line for the runway centerline and attempted to take off. During the takeoff roll, the airplane impacted a runway edge light, and went into the grass area adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilator and the right wing during the accident. The pilot and the flight instructor reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.