No fatalities

Aircraft Stalls During Short Field Takeoff, Veers Left and Exits Runway

Rancho Murieta, CA, United States

On September 28, 2014, a PIPER PA 24-250 250 was involved in an aviation accident near Rancho Murieta, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff and the certified flight instructors delayed remedial action, which resulted in the stall. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A private pilot and a certified flight instructor were practicing landings when a short field takeoff resulted in a left veer and stall, causing substantial wing damage. No pre-impact mechanical issues were reported.

Accident Overview

A private pilot, accompanied by a certified flight instructor (CFI), was conducting a flight intended to accumulate flight hours for insurance purposes. The flight departed from the airplane's home base to a nearby airport for landing practice.

Sequence of Events

After completing approximately two landings, the pilot configured the airplane for a short field takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the pilot waited for the airplane to reach rotation speed. Shortly after becoming airborne, the airplane began to veer to the left and subsequently stalled. The airplane came to rest approximately 50 yards off the runway surface.

Aircraft Damage

The impact resulted in substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Pilot Information

The pilot held a private pilot certificate and was flying with a CFI for the purpose of meeting insurance hour requirements. No further details about the pilot or the CFI were provided.

Contributing factors

Student/instructed pilotInstructor/check pilot