ERA16LA192

Factual narrative

On May 19, 2016, about 1320 eastern daylight time, a privately owned and operated Piper PA-28-180, N7781W, was substantially damaged during landing at Genesee County Airport (GVQ), Batavia, New York. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight that was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated about 1300 from Akron Airport (9G3), Akron, New York.The student pilot stated that he departed from 9G3 and flew to GVQ where he performed two uneventful touch-and-go landings on runway 28. During a third touch-and-go landing he landed uneventfully, retracted the flaps, and added engine power. He was utilizing some right rudder input as the airplane reached rotation speed (approximately 70 mph), and "pulled hard to the left," which he could not correct with full application of right rudder. As the airplane approached the left side of the runway, he noted runway signage, but because the airplane was at takeoff speed, he thought climbing above the signs would result in a safer outcome and continued the takeoff. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and while attempting to clear the signage off the left side of the runway, both wings collided with separate signs, which breached both fuel tanks. The pilot continued the takeoff and while turning left to land on a nearby road, he noted fuel streaming from the left fuel tank and the engine lost power. He flew under one set of powerlines and then over a second set before landing uneventfully on the road. Examination of the airport and airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed browning of grass beyond both impacted airport signs, and for a short distance past the point where the airplane became airborne. Both fuel tanks were breached; neither contained any fuel. Flight control continuity was confirmed for all flight controls. Examination of the impacted airport signs revealed their posts were frangible. The pilot reported the wind to be from north at 8 mph with no gusts, while a weather observation taken about 26 minutes before the accident at an airport located about 22 nautical miles east-northeast from GVQ reported the wind was from 280° at 9 knots. 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C