# NTSB CEN19FA044: Piper PA24, N6785P, Valparaiso, IN, December 13, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: December 13, 2018, 10:44 local (16:44 UTC) - Place: Valparaiso, IN - Coordinates: 41.451667, -87.004447 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4517&lon=-87.0044&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report July 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Piper Aircraft, FAA - Dupage FSDO, Textron Lycoming - NTSB case key (mKey): 98768 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19FA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98768/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98768 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA044 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall and spin. ## 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-24-250, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was departing on a personal flight. Witness observations and surveillance video captured the airplane during the initial climb; the right wing dropped and then the airplane entered a right spin. A surveillance video from a camera mounted on a building near the accident captured the final portion of the accident sequence; the airplane completed one revolution in the spin before it impacted the ground in a near vertical attitude. Examination of the airplane, engine, and systems revealed no evidence of any preimpact anomalies. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall and spin. ## Factual narrative On December 13, 2018, at 1044 central standard time, a Piper PA24-250 airplane, N6785P, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Valparaiso, Indiana. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Witnesses, including a flight instructor, reported seeing the accident airplane take off from runway 9. When the airplane was a few hundred feet above the runway, the right wing dropped; the airplane entered a spin to the right and subsequently impacted the ground. Surveillance video captured the final portion of the accident sequence. The airplane could be seen entering the frame of the video in a right bank. The airplane then entered a spin to the right, which continued until it impacted the ground in a near-vertical attitude. According to the autopsy performed by Pathologix Private Autopsy Services, Valparaiso, Indiana, the pilot's cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma. Toxicology testing performed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Forensic Sciences Laboratory was negative for all substances. The airplane impacted the ground about 3,700 ft east of the approach end of runway 9 and 250 ft south of the runway centerline. The airplane was facing east and displayed crushing of the forward fuselage and the leading edges of both wings. There was wrinkling of the fuselage skin aft of the cabin. The wings and tail surfaces remained attached to the fuselage and all control surfaces remained attached. Examination of the airplane after its removal from the site revealed that all control system cables were intact from the cockpit controls to their respective control surfaces. Examination of the engine confirmed compression and suction on the forward 4 cylinders. The aft 2 cylinders did not initially produce compression due to impact damage to the rocker arm pushrods. Removal of the rocker arms allowed the valves to close and resulted in compression and suction on the aft 2 cylinders. Crankshaft, valve train, and accessory gear continuity were confirmed during rotation of the engine. Both magnetos were broken loose from the engine accessory case and one magneto produced spark on all leads when rotated. The second magneto did not produce spark, but was impact damaged. Disassembly of the magneto confirmed that the impact fractured the ignition points' pivot block. The carburetor was fractured and the bowl was broken open; disassembly did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. The mechanical fuel pump was fractured and could not be tested, but disassembly revealed no preimpact anomalies. The airplane was equipped with four fuel tanks. Each wing had a rubber bladder-type main fuel tank and a tip-mounted tank. All four fuel tanks were ruptured and no fuel remained. No fuel odor was detected at the site; however, it was raining during the initial on-scene examination. The fuel selector valve was found positioned to the right main fuel tank and the handle was inthe corresponding detent. The two electric fuel pumps were removed from the airframe; both pumps pumped a liquid when electrical power was supplied. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6785P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6785P-2021-05-08), registration cancelled 2021-05-08, S/N 24-1916, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA24 (250) - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1916 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 6065 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 2018 - Departed: VPZ, Valparaiso, IN - Airport: VPZ, Porter County Rgnl, runway 09, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 149.3 total, 21.1 in this make and model, 74.3 as pilot in command, 27.3 in the last 90 days, 12.1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: VPZ ## 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 20181213023479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181213023479A), Dec 13, 2018: Piper PA-24-250, Valparaiso, IN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On December 13, 2018, the pilot-in-command (PIC) of N6785P, a Piper PA-24-250 aircraft, was departing Porter county regional airport (vpz) on a return flight… ## Other investigations on N6785P (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 GAA18CA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA195), Mar 21, 2018: Piper PA24 (N6785P), Knox, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 20, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98768. 13.9 MB in all. - Toxicological Report (item 1, .PDF, 242 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483826&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 478 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483827&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Excerpts from Airplane Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 11.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483829&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Airplane%20Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Weather METAR Information (item 4, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483830&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20METAR%20Information-Master.PDF - Airplane Examination Summary (item 5, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483831&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Examination%20Summary-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 6, .PDF, 787 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483833&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 7, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483834&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 8, .PDF, 954 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483835&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.