Piper PA28 accident near Louisville, Kentucky, February 26, 2019
On February 26, 2019 at about 11:35 pm local time, a 1979 Piper PA28, registered N2184X, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Louisville, Kentucky (Bowman Field Airport). It was a personal 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 failure of the magnetos due to a known deficiency, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s failure to comply with the applicable service bulletin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 2019 · about 11:35 pm local time
- Place
- Louisville, Kentucky · Bowman Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 181, built 1979 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N2184X · no longer on the register · serial 28-7990365
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane accelerated normally during the takeoff roll, became airborne, and the engine started to run "rough." He elected to land straight ahead on the remaining runway. The airplane subsequently overran the runway and collided with the perimeter fence. Examination of the airplane revealed it sustained substantial damage to the airframe. During an examination of the left magneto, two ignition wires in the distributor cap revealed evidence of arcing, and one ignition lead was found detached from the insulator and spring. The right magneto was removed, rotated, and produced spark at each spark lead. The metal copper electrode on the right magneto distributor gear was found loose. To address a potential decreased service life of Slick 4-cylinder magneto distributor gear assemblies, Slick/Champion Aerospace Service Bulletin SB1-15A calls for replacing distributor gear assemblies that have a copper electrode with assemblies that have a Monel electrode. A rough running engine was a symptom of the condition that the SB was intended to address. A review of the accident airplane’s maintenance logbooks revealed no entries for the repair of the magnetos or compliance with the applicable SB and that the airplane received three annual inspections since the release and the revision of the SB.
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 (partial) 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 power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Failure
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Replacement › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 252 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 215 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 18, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,638 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 2018; 506 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LOU Louisville KY at 11:35 pm
- Destination: LEX Lexington KY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 4,358 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from LOU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on February 24, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Passenger Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Memorandum of Record SB1-15A Excerpts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.