Piper PA30 accident near Phillipsburg, Ohio, May 21, 2011
On May 21, 2011 at about 11:45 am local time, a Piper PA30, registered N7248Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Phillipsburg, Ohio (Phillipsburg Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff following a loss of left engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2011 · about 11:45 am local time
- Place
- Phillipsburg, Ohio · Phillipsburg Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA30 NO SERIES · all PA30s on the register
- Registration
- N7248Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-273
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was taking off on a solo flight when the airplane veered off the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane experienced a loss of left engine power during the takeoff rotation. The pilot stated that he did not retard engine power quickly enough and that the airplane did not respond to his application of right rudder control. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings when it impacted trees. Postaccident examination of the accident site revealed only left main landing gear tire skid marks leading to the accident site. Functional testing of the left engine was precluded by impact damage. However, a teardown inspection of the engine revealed no issues that would have precluded its normal operation. The examination of the remaining airplane systems showed no anomalies.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 304 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 196 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 14, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,970 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2010; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3I7 Philipsburg OH at 11:45 am
- Destination: 3I7 Philipsburg OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:00 am from DAY, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.