# NTSB CEN18LA165: Piper PA 34-200, N99GN, Valparaiso, IN, May 8, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 8, 2018, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Valparaiso, IN - Coordinates: 41.453887, -87.006942 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4539&lon=-87.0069&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 16, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97222 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97222/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97222 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA165 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain a safe operating airspeed, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's failure to monitor the pilot's airspeed control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot receiving instruction and the flight instructor were conducting multiple approaches to the airport. During a simulated engine-out go-around, when the pilot advanced the throttle of the operating engine to full power, he allowed the airspeed to drop below the single-engine minimum controllable airspeed. Subsequently, the pilot lost airplane control, and the airplane descended and impacted terrain. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The instructor should have been monitoring the pilot's airspeed control and his failure to do so contributed to the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 8, 2018, about 1315 central daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200 airplane, N99GN, collided with terrain following a go-around at the Porter County Airport (KVPZ), Valparaiso, Indiana. The flight instructor was seriously injured and the pilot receiving instruction had minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Griffith Aviation, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight departed Griffith-Merrillville Airport (05C), Griffith, Indiana, about 1000.According to information provided by representatives from the Griffith Aviation Inc. flight school, the pilot receiving instruction was performing approaches to KVPZ. The second approach was a simulated engine out approach to a planned go-around. During the go-around, the airplane's speed dropped below the single-engine minimum controlled airspeed as the pilot advanced the throttle of the operating engine to full power. He lost control of the airplane, and the airplane descended and collided with terrain. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the wreckage and did not find any preimpact anomalies which would have contributed to the accident. Substantial damage was sustained to the right wing spar and fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99GN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99GN-2019-03-16), registration cancelled 2019-03-16, S/N 34-7250030, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 34-200 (200) - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-C1E6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-c1e6) (registry code 41835, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7250030 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 8558.6 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Griffith Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Griffith Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 2, 2018, 89 hours before - Departed: 05C, GRIFFITH, IN - Destination: 05C, GRIFFITH, IN - Airport: VPZ, Porter County Rgnl, runway 27, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 204 total, 25 in this make and model, 151 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 54; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 9, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,093 total, 94 in this make and model, 1,945 as pilot in command, 127 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KVPZ ## 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 20180508004929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180508004929A), May 8, 2018: Piper PA-34-200, Valparaiso, IN, Destroyed. N99GN is a PA-34-200 (Piper seneca). The accident occurred during a training flight. During a simulated single engine approach flight, the student flying N99GN… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 12, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97222. 817 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 765 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475788&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA and NTSB (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475789&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20and%20NTSB-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.