Piper PA-28-180 accident near West Chester, Pennsylvania, March 21, 2021
On March 21, 2021 at about 12:35 pm local time, a 1968 Piper PA-28-180, registered N24JN, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near West Chester, Pennsylvania (Brandywine Rgnl 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with airport lights and a hangar.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2021 · about 12:35 pm local time
- Place
- West Chester, Pennsylvania · Brandywine Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180, built 1968 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N24JN · no longer on the register · serial 28-4753
- 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, while on his takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left of the runway centerline when he glanced down to check the instruments. He corrected with right rudder to return to the center; however, he overcorrected and then added left rudder. Before he was able to correct, the airplane exited the left side of the runway and struck the precision approach path indicator lights, which breached the left fuel tank and ignited a fire in the left wing. The airplane subsequently crossed a taxiway, travelled down an embankment, and impacted a maintenance hangar. The pilot egressed through the right cockpit door and was able to extinguish the fire. The airplane’s left wing was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 91 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 11, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,904.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 18, 2021; 22.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09/2, 3,347 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.56 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 am from OQN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on July 21, 2021. 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 Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record A�� FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Area Weather Reports | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 7 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.