Piper PA-22-135 accident near Elberta, Alabama, June 27, 2025
On June 27, 2025 at about 1:00 pm local time, a 1954 Piper PA-22-135, registered N3228B, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Elberta, Alabama (Non-Airport Farmland). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Pilot’s decision to take off from a wet and unmaintained field that was unsuitable for airplane operations, resulting in a loss of control and subsequent nose over. Contributing was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2025 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Elberta, Alabama · Non-Airport Farmland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-135, built 1954 · all PA-22-135s on the register
- Registration
- N3228B · registry record · serial 22-2057
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying to the destination airport where a mechanic was scheduled to perform an annual inspection of the airplane (that was about to be overdue). While enroute, a storm had arrived over the destination airport, so the pilot diverted to what he thought was a private airstrip. As soon as the airplane touched down, he realized that it was not a maintained airstrip. The pilot waited for the storm to pass, then elected to resume the flight and attempted to take off. During the takeoff roll, he was forced to abort because of the wet and rough ground condition. He attempted a second takeoff from another part of the field that appeared smoother, but during the second takeoff attempt, about 1/3 of the way into the takeoff roll, the terrain got progressively wetter and muddier. The airplane began to skid left and right, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The left wing subsequently struck the ground which resulted in the airplane nosing over and coming to rest inverted. The pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane’s wings, rudder and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. He further stated that in retrospect, he had a “get-there-it is mentality” because of the airplane’s impending inspection deadline.
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
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Personality/attitude › Motivation/respond to pressure › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway/landing area condition › Decision related to condition
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Decision related to condition
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet surface › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,050 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,409 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 2024; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 3,094 hours total
- Operator: Eldorado Aircraft LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 13,000 ft; a few clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 am from NPA, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KNPA 271456Z 33005KT 10SM FEW028 BKN130 BKN250 26/24 A3011 RMK AO2 RAE13 SLP197 T2 SET P0000 60015 T02610239 50004
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Front view of airplane looking aft.
Photograph 2 – View of airplane upside down.
Photograph 3 – Left wing damage.
Photograph 4 – View of muddy ground track leading up to wreckage.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 14, 2025. 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 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | 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.