Piper PA-28-140 accident near Washington Court House, Ohio, May 20, 2021
On May 20, 2021 at about 11:45 pm local time, a 1972 Piper PA-28-140, registered N15033, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Washington Court House, Ohio (Fayette County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a soft field takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 2021 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Washington Court House, Ohio · Fayette County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140, built 1972 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N15033 · registry record · serial 28-7225556
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was performing a soft-field takeoff in preparation for his upcoming private pilot checkride when after the nose wheel lifted off the runway, the airplane yawed to the left. He applied right rudder in an attempt to maintain control; however, when a runway excursion seemed imminent, he applied full brake pressure on both pedals. The airplane veered “sharply” to the left, exited the runway, and impacted a ditch before coming to rest in an adjacent field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that attempting to steer the airplane back toward the runway centerline and not applying the brakes might have prevented the accident.
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 control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 47 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 22, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,785 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 19, 2021; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I23 Washington Court House OH at 11:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,097 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.50 inHg
- Observation at 7:44 pm from I23
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN21LA229.