20040513009809A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-44-180 · Wittmann, AZ · May 13, 2004

Date: May 13, 2004 · 07:30 local
Place: Wittmann, AZ
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N4144C
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04FA207
Reported as: Piper PA44180
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 3
Pilot’s flight hours: 407 total20 in this make and model70 in the last 90 days

N4144CRegistration cancelled Aug 30, 2006 · Piper PA-44-180S/N 4496020 · Built 1998 Airframe modelPiper PA-44-180 Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On may 13, 2004, at approx 0730 hrs MST, a Piper PA-44-180 aircraft, operating under an instructional part 91 flight, was destroyed during collision with the ground. The three occupants on board sustained fatal injuries. There was no post crash fire. Three eye witnesses stated that they saw the aircraft descending in a nose down attitude prior to impact. They also stated that they did not hear the engines. The weather was clear. The winds were light and variable. No one on the ground was injured. End.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON MAY 13, 2004, AT APPROX 0730 HRS MST, A PIPER PA-44-180 AIRCRAFT, OPERATING UNDER AN INSTRUCTIONAL PART 91 FLIGHT, WAS DESTROYED DURING COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. THE THREE OCCUPANTS ON BOARD SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE. THREE EYE WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY SAW THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE PRIOR TO IMPACT. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HEAR THE ENGINES. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR. THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE. NO ONE ON THE GROUND WAS INJURED. END.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04FA207Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportWittmann, AZThe flight instructor's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall/spin while maneuvering the airplane with a dual student.May 13, 2004 · Destroyed