Piper PA-28-161 accident near Lake Wales, Florida, April 28, 2012
On April 28, 2012 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N746RA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Lake Wales, Florida (Lake Wales Municipal Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s decision to depart from an intersection with insufficient runway remaining for takeoff, which resulted in a rejected takeoff and subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 2012 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Wales, Florida · Lake Wales Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N746RA · no longer on the register · serial 2841136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After observing the student pilot’s successful performance of several takeoffs and landings, the flight instructor exited the airplane and briefed the student pilot for solo traffic pattern work. The student pilot taxied to the end of the runway and performed the first takeoff and landing without incident. The student pilot then began his second takeoff at the runway’s intersection with a taxiway, which left about 1,000 feet of runway remaining. The flight instructor advised the student pilot on the common traffic advisory frequency not to perform an intersection departure. The student pilot stated that he did not hear the radio call. The student pilot initiated the takeoff but stated the airplane was not climbing properly and aborted the takeoff. With insufficient runway remaining to stop and with obstacles ahead, the student pilot veered right then collided with bushes. Postaccident examination and an engine run revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failure that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Takeoff distance › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Student pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 43 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,977 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 2012; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,332 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X07 Lake Wales FL at 5:00 pm
- Destination: X07 Lake Wales FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 3,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from BOW, 9 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.