Piper PA-32R-300 accident near St. Petersburg, Florida, July 15, 2010
On July 15, 2010 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N38448, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near St. Petersburg, Florida (Albert Whitted Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control while taking off with a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2010 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- St. Petersburg, Florida · Albert Whitted Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N38448 · registry record · serial 32R-7780428
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during takeoff the airplane began to slow down. He leveled the wings to maintain speed, but it continued to decrease. Shortly thereafter, the pilot noticed a slight crosswind, but did not correct too aggressively in an effort to avoid hitting the right wing tip on the runway. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff and the airplane touched down in the grass adjacent to the runway. The airplane continued into a dry pond, incurring substantial damage to the left wing. The weight and balance and performance calculations for the airplane revealed that at takeoff the airplane was near the maximum gross weight with a slightly forward center of gravity. Weather recorded at the airport about the time of the accident indicated that there was a 5-knot crosswind. The pilot reported no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incomplete action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 339 hours in all; 334 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 245 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 30, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,235 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 2010; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPG St. Petersburg FL
- Destination: YEM Governors Harbo
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 07, 3,677 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from SPG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.