What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
After flying for about 30 minutes, the CFI rated PIC allowed the sport pilot rated passenger to take off. The aircraft started to drift off the runway during take off, and the CFI took the controls to try to land. He felt heavy resistance on the flight controls, and could not get the aircraft to land where he wanted it. It ended up in a gravel pit, with the aircraft being substantially damaged.
The CFI rated pilot stated he believes the other pilot was still trying to fly the airplane, which created the resistance encountered while attempting to land.
The CFI rated pilot recalls telling the other pilot that he had the controls but cannot recall if the other pilot responded. The entire incident took place in under 10 seconds.
The sport pilot rated pilot also stated that he felt the controls get stiff and that he could not get the aircraft to line up the way he wanted. He did not mention hearing the other pilot say he had the controls. It is likely the two pilots were interfering with each others control inputs during the critical moments before impact.
No violation occurred during this accident. Pilot counseling will be conducted with the PIC.
As the FAA filed it
AFTER FLYING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THE CFI RATED PIC ALLOWED THE SPORT PILOT RATED PASSENGER TO TAKE OFF. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DRIFT OFF THE RUNWAY DURING TAKE OFF, AND THE CFI TOOK THE CONTROLS TO TRY TO LAND. HE FELT HEAVY RESISTANCE ON THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, AND COULD NOT GET THE AIRCRAFT TO LAND WHERE HE WANTED IT. IT ENDED UP IN A GRAVEL PIT, WITH THE AIRCRAFT BEING SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.
THE CFI RATED PILOT STATED HE BELIEVES THE OTHER PILOT WAS STILL TRYING TO FLY THE AIRPLANE, WHICH CREATED THE RESISTANCE ENCOUNTERED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND.
THE CFI RATED PILOT RECALLS TELLING THE OTHER PILOT THAT HE HAD THE CONTROLS BUT CANNOT RECALL IF THE OTHER PILOT RESPONDED. THE ENTIRE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE IN UNDER 10 SECONDS.
THE SPORT PILOT RATED PILOT ALSO STATED THAT HE FELT THE CONTROLS GET STIFF AND THAT HE COULD NOT GET THE AIRCRAFT TO LINE UP THE WAY HE WANTED. HE DID NOT MENTION HEARING THE OTHER PILOT SAY HE HAD THE CONTROLS. IT IS LIKELY THE TWO PILOTS WERE INTERFERING WITH EACH OTHERS CONTROL INPUTS DURING THE CRITICAL MOMENTS BEFORE IMPACT.
NO VIOLATION OCCURRED DURING THIS ACCIDENT. PILOT COUNSELING WILL BE CONDUCTED WITH THE PIC.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.