Piper PA 28-161 accident near Clewiston, Florida, November 11, 2013
On November 11, 2013 at about 4:50 pm local time, a 1989 Piper PA 28-161, registered N9236L, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Clewiston, Florida (Airglades 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 failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 2013 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Clewiston, Florida · Airglades · 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, built 1989 · all PA 28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N9236L · no longer on the register · serial 2841122
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot, he landed at his second destination airport, performed a full stop, and taxied back to runway 13 for departure. He lined up on runway centerline and applied a left crosswind correction by turning the yoke to the left. After applying takeoff power and starting his ground roll the right wing rose upwards. The pilot responded by applying right aileron, right rudder, and brakes; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck a thousand foot marker. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed right wing spar damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 50 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,528 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 24, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 5,681 hours total
- Operator: Flight Safety International INC
The flight
- Departed from: OBE Okeechobee FL at 4:24 pm
- Destination: 2IS Clewiston FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,901 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from IMM, 26 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.
Other NTSB records under N9236L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.