# NTSB CEN16FA094: Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 Echo Super, N323BR, Arcola, TX, February 1, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: February 1, 2016, 10:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Arcola, TX - Coordinates: 29.506944, -95.4775 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5069&lon=-95.4775&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92663 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16FA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92663/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92663 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA094 ## Probable cause The student pilot's loss of control after exceeding the airplane's critical angle-of-attack, which lead to a power-on, aerodynamic departure stall. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate oversight of the student pilot. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600007), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=0600007), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=0600007), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=0600007), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0600007), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and a student pilot, who had flown about 5 flight hours with the instructor, were conducting an instructional flight in the light sport airplane. The student pilot reported that he was conducting the takeoff with the instructor assisting, and about 200 ft. above ground level, the airplane began to drift off the runway centerline. The student said that he attempted to correct, but it felt like the airplane was losing engine power and the nose was dropping. He added that he was pulling back on the controls and that the instructor was also pulling back, in an attempt to recover. A witness reported seeing the airplane climbing after takeoff in a nose high attitude when the left wing dropped, and the airplane entered a descending left turn. The airplane then impacted two parked airplanes on a ramp adjacent to a parallel taxiway. A postcrash fire consumed the majority of the airplane. Due to the fire damage, only a limited examination could be conducted; however, no preimpact abnormities were noted with the engine and airframe. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a power-on departure stall. ## Factual narrative The accident airplane was a Tecnam P92, a high-wing, single-engine, light sport airplane, with fixed landing gear. It was powered by a 100-horsepower, 4-cylinder, reciprocating Rotax 912 engine, and a fixed pitch propeller. The airplane's airworthiness certificate is in the Special, Light Sport (S-LSA) category. The fuselage was a semi-monocoque construction with a mixture of thin aluminum covered tube structure. A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that the last condition inspection was completed October 22, 2015, at an airplane and engine total time of 2,385.57 hours. The Houston Southwest Airport (AXH) is a public-use, non-towered airport, located 15 miles southwest of Houston, Texas. Pilots use ommon raffic dvisory requency (CTAF) for communications. The airport has a single asphalt runway; runway 9/27, measuring 5,002 ft. long by 100 ft. wide. The airport is at an elevation of 68.9 ft mean sea level and has an AWOS station located on the field. On February 1, 2016, about 1015 central standard time, a Tecnam P92 light sport airplane, N323BR, impacted terrain near Arcola, Texas. The flight instructor was fatally injured; the student pilot was seriously injured; and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to and operated by Houston Light Sport Aviation, LLC, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the airplane was not on a flight plan. The local flight was originating from the Houston Southwest Airport (AXH), Houston, Texas, at the time of the accident. A witness reported that the airplane departed on runway 9, and when it was about midfield, the airplane was in a nose-high attitude. The airplane's left wing dropped, and the airplane entered a descending left turn. The airplane then collided with two airplanes that were parked by a hangar adjacent to a parallel taxiway. The accident airplane came to rest on one of the parked airplanes, and a post-crash fire consumed the majority of the accident airplane and one of the parked airplanes. The student pilot was interviewed while he was recovering in the hospital. He stated that he and the instructor completed some ground school training. The plan was then to conduct traffic pattern work including downwind and base legs. Before taxiing out, they saw an airplane depart from runway 27; however, they noted that, based on the current wind condition, the runway in use should have been runway 9. The student pilot added that he was conducting the takeoff with the instructor assisting. He applied full power, and, about 200 ft above ground level, the airplane started to drift left. He attempted to correct the drift to stay on the runway centerline. According to the student pilot, it felt like the engine was losing power, and the nose was dropping. He stated that he was pulling back on the controls and that the instructor was also pulling back. At that point, he knew they weregoing to crash, and there was nothing they could do to prevent it. The Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office, Texas City, Texas, conducted an autopsy on the flight instructor. The cause of death was determined to be "blunt force trauma and thermal injury". The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted toxicological testing on the flight instructor. The specimens were not tested for cyanide. The tests were negative for ethanol and carbon monoxide. The tests were positive for lipizide in urine and blood, and alicylate in urine. Glipizide is a prescription medication typically used to treat type 2 diabetes. At 1015, the automated weather observation facility (AWOS) located at AXH recorded, wind 120 at 6 knots, 7 miles visibility, scattered clouds at 1,500 ft with a ceiling at 2,000 ft, temperature of 68 F, dew point 64 F, and an altimeter setting of 29.88 inches of mercury. The flight instructor held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. Additionally, he held a ground instructor certificate and a flight instructor certificate with airplane single- and multi-engine and instrument airplane ratings. The flight instructor was issued a special issuance first class medical certificate on July 27, 2015. At the time of the exam, the instructor reported he had 6,161.1 total flight hours and 30.5 hours in the previous six months. A review of flight club records revealed that he had 6 flight hours in the Tecnam P92. The student pilot had four previous flights with the flight instructor and did not hold a student pilot certificate. A review of club records revealed that the student had approximately 5.1 total flight hours. The on-site examination of the wreckage revealed the airplane impacted a parked Cessna 172, and came to rest on a Gulfstream American AA5A airplane. A survey of the area did not reveal any ground scars between the runway and the ramp area where the airplane impacted the Cessna. A postcrash fire consumed much of the AA5A, the accident airplane, and limited the examination of the accident airplane. The wreckage came to rest facing the runway. The right wing had extensive thermal damage with the inboard section of the wing and flap consumed by the fire. The left wing was consumed by the fire and its remnants were indistinguishable from the remnants of the AA5A. The main cabin was consumed by fire with only a tubular type frame remaining; the empennage had thermal damage but was largely intact. The engine compartment and forward fuselage were mostly consumed by fire. The propeller and nose cone were thermally damaged, and only a piece of the two-bladed propeller was located outside the fire damage area. Aileron continuity was established at each of the wing bellcranks; however, sections of the push-pull tubing were consumed by the fire. Additionally, the control cable connection points were separated; eachfastener was either consumed or melted by the fire. The elevator push-pull tube was consumed forward of the empennage. Rudder control continuity was established to the cockpit rudder pedals. The flap actuator position was compared to an exemplar actuator on a similar airplane; the actuator position corresponded to a flap retracted position. The firewall and part of the instrument panel were consumed by the fire. The engine also received extensive fire damage. The engine intake/carburetors and fuel pump were in place but were partly consumed by the fire. Fire damage prevented the engine from being rotated by hand. The engine's propeller speed reduction unit (PSRU) was dissembled; a visual inspection revealed no discrepancies with the internal gears. The top sparkplugs were removed and exhibited light colored combustion deposits and the electrodes exhibited normal signatures. No preimpact abnormalities were noted during the airframe or engine examinations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N323BR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N323BR-2018-08-10), registration cancelled 2018-08-10, S/N 986, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE TECNA P92 ECHO SUPER - Registry model: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER](https://openairdocs.org/model/costruzioni-aeronautiche-tecna-p92-echo-super) (registry code 0600007) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 986 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 2385.5 - Engines: Rotax 912 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Houston LightSport Aviation, LLC - Registered owner: Houston LightSport Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 22, 2015 - Departed: Houston, TX - Destination: Houston, TX - Airport: KAXH, Houston Southwest, runway 09, 5,002 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 68; injuries: fatal; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,233 total, 6 in this make and model, 5,373 as pilot in command - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: serious; seat: left; flight hours: 5 total, 5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KAXH ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20160201001249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160201001249A), Feb 1, 2016: Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER, Arcola, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft stalled upon take-off roll and crashed on top of N26724 aircraft next to hanger. Aircraft destroyed after catching fire. There was very little… ## Other investigations on N323BR (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CEN10LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA207), Mar 7, 2010: Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 Echo Super (N323BR), Baytown, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the landing gear bolts. ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 19, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92663. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 738 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451239&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Student Interview (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451240&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Interview-Master.PDF - Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451241&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451242&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - (Extract) Maintenance Records (item 5, .PDF, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451243&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=(Extract)%20Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 6, .PDF, 367 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451244&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 7, .PDF, 246 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451245&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Airplane POH (item 8, .PDF, 887 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451246&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20POH-Master.PDF - Flight Times (item 9, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451247&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Times-Master.PDF - Photos (item 10, .PDF, 7 photos, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451248&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.