Piper PA-28-181 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, March 21, 2010
On March 21, 2010 at about 5:37 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N428PA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Deer Valley Arpt airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's failure to attain and maintain adequate airspeed while demonstrating a soft-field takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2010 · about 5:37 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix Deer Valley Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N428PA · registry record · serial 2843476
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor was demonstrating a soft-field takeoff to his student. During the takeoff roll, he applied full back pressure on the yoke, heard the stall horn, and lowered the nose. As the aircraft left the ground, the flight instructor heard the stall horn a second time. The airplane's right wing began to rise as the aircraft reached an estimated altitude of 20 feet above ground level. The flight instructor checked that the throttle was full forward, but the airplane would not accelerate. As the airplane continued to turn left it departed the left side of the runway and the left wing impacted a runway information sign. The airplane came to a stop in the grass off the left side of the runway. The left wing's forward spar was damaged and the left fuel tank was ruptured. The right wing's outer 4 feet (estimated) was bent up and the engine's firewall was wrinkled.
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 in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 562 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 17, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 38 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,350 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 11, 2010
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bird Acquisition LLC
The flight
- Departed from: DVT Phoenix AZ at 5:35 pm
- Destination: DVT Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 07R, 8,197 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from DVT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.