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WPR25LA142

2025-04-15 · West Jordan, Utah, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport SVR

Current FAA registration · N15984

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28-140
Year of manufacture
1973 · 52 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19730105
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A0EF2B

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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.

Factual narrative

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°. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation
  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2025_WPR25LA142.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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