# NTSB CEN20CA100: Commander 114, N374JW, Coldwater, MI, February 22, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 22, 2020, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Coldwater, MI - Coordinates: 41.936943, -85.046669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9369&lon=-85.0467&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 27, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 100985 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100985/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100985 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA100 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate communication with the pilot under review about his intention to simulate a single-engine failure and his subsequent exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack when the pilot did not respond as expected, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Communication (personnel)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063500): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Commander 114-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063500/cases.md?model=0145001), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063500/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Commander 114-B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0145001), [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: [Commander 114-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=0145001), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: expectation/assumption](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Commander 114-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525/cases.md?model=0145001), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Commander 114-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=0145001), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Commander 114-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=0145001), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Commander 114-B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=0145001), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, during a flight review for the pilot, after takeoff and when the airplane was between about 300 and 400 ft above ground level, he reduced the throttle to idle to simulate an engine failure. The instructor expected the pilot to make a gradual right turn to land midfield on the intersecting runway. However, the pilot did not respond as expected, so the instructor assumed control, made a right turn, and lowered the airplane's nose. The pilot reported that, about the same time, he thought the airplane was too low, so he advanced the throttle full forward, but they could not arrest the descent. They felt the airplane shudder, and it experienced an aerodynamic stall and impacted terrain. A postimpact fire ensued under the engine cowling, which the passenger extinguished using the onboard fire extinguisher. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Examination of the propeller revealed curling and chordwise scratches on the blades, and the engine monitor indicated that the engine was turning at 2,625 rpm after the throttle was pushed forward, both of which are consistent with the engine producing high power at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative The purpose of the flight was to complete a flight review for the commercial rated pilot in the left seat with the flight instructor in the right seat. After takeoff and about 300 ft agl, the flight instructor reduced the throttle to idle to simulate an engine failure. The flight instructor expected the pilot to make a gradual right turn to land mid-field on the intersecting runway. The pilot did not respond as expected so the flight instructor assumed control, made a right turn, and lowered the airplane's nose. About the same time the pilot thought they were too low and advanced the throttle full forward. They felt the airplane shudder and experienced an aerodynamic stall before it impacted the ground. A postimpact fire ensure under the engine cowling that was extinguished by the passenger using the onboard fire extinguisher. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Examination of the propeller noted curling and chordwise scratches on the blades. Additionally, the engine monitor indicated the engine was turning at 2,625 rpm at the time of the accident, consistent with the engine producing high power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N374JW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N374JW-2021-08-21), registration cancelled 2021-08-21, S/N 14595, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Commander 114 (B) - Registry model: [Commander 114-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/commander-114-b) (registry code 0145001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14595 - Year built: 1993 - Airframe hours: 1882 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-T4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2019 - Departed: OEB, Coldwater, MI - Destination: OEB, Coldwater, MI - Airport: OEB, Branch County Memorial, runway 04, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 26, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,783 total, 1,682 in this make and model, 1,702 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 72; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,610 total, 54 in this make and model, 3,432 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 30 days - Pilot-rated passenger; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: right; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KOEB ## 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 20200222000239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200222000239A), Feb 22, 2020: Commander Aircraft Co 114-B, Coldwater, MI, Substantial damage. On February 22, 2020 at 1342 local time, a Commander aircraft company 114B, N374JW, registered to and operated by a commercial pilot, received substantial… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 25, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100985. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481552&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481553&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 868 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481554&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.