# NTSB CEN19CA336: Piper PA38, N6400A, Taylor, TX, September 2, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 2, 2019, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Taylor, TX - Coordinates: 30.572778, -97.443054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5728&lon=-97.4431&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standard District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 100386 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19CA336 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100386/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19CA336 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student's soft-field takeoff, which resulted in an excessive pitch attitude, settling effect, and impact with a ditch off the end of the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting a training flight, which included touch-and-go landings. During the landing rollout and with about 2,000 ft of runway remaining, the instructor directed the student to transition to a soft-field takeoff. The student conducted the takeoff and attempted to climb with a high pitch attitude, but the airplane settled back to the ground off the end of the runway. The airplane subsequently impacted a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The instructor reported that the pitch attitude during the climbout was too high and that he should not have directed the student to attempt a soft-field takeoff given the runway distance remaining. The instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting a training flight that included touch and go landings. During landing rollout, with about 2,000 ft of runway remaining, the flight instructor directed the student to transition to a soft field takeoff.The student made the takeoff and attempted to climb out of with a high pitch attitude, during which the airplane settled back to the ground off the end of the runway. The airplane subsequently impacted a ditch, which damaged the fuselage. Following the accident, the flight instructor recognized the pitch attitude during the student's climb out was too high and that he should not have directed the student to attempt a soft field takeoff, based on the runway distance remaining. The accident report form indicated that there were mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6400A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6400A-2020-06-22), registration cancelled 2020-06-22, S/N 38-78A0415, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA38 (112) - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-78A0415 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 6223 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pilots Choice Aviation Equipment Leasing - Registered owner: Pilots Choice Aviation Equipment Leasing - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 27, 2019 - Departed: GTU, Georgetown, TX - Destination: T74, Taylor, TX - Airport: T74, Taylor Muni, runway 35, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 14, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 628 total, 292 in this make and model, 532 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 72 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 114 total, 100 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KEDC, 12 nm away ## 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 20190902017919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190902017919A), Sep 2, 2019: Piper PA-38-112, Taylor, TX, Substantial damage. At approximately 0925 on September 2, 2019, N6400A departed georgetown municipal airport, TX (gtu), To conduct precision take off on landing training at Taylor… 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.