Piper PA-28-181 accident near West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, April 10, 2023
On April 10, 2023 at about 7:20 pm local time, a 2020 Piper PA-28-181, registered N476TA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near West Mifflin, Pennsylvania (Allegheny County 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 abort the takeoff and land on the runway without sufficient runway remaining, which resulted in a runway overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2023 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- West Mifflin, Pennsylvania · Allegheny County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181, built 2020 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N476TA · registry record · serial 2881318
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that this was her second solo flight. During takeoff, the airplane lifted off the runway but she felt it was not accelerating like it should and she elected to abort the takeoff. She landed the airplane on the remaining portion of runway, however it continued off the departure end, down an embankment, and came to rest in some bushes. The leading edges of the wings, fuselage, and the stabilator were all substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact 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
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Landing distance › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 53.6 hours in all; 44.6 in this make and model; 42.7 in the last 90 days; 22.8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,354 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 23, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 2,421 hours total
- Operator: Atp Taa LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.33 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from AGC, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KAGC 101953Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 19/M05 A3033 RMK AO2 SLP276 T01941050
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 29, 2023. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 2 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.