# NTSB CEN25LA146: Piper PA28, N8282V, Ault, CO, April 7, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 7, 2025, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Ault, CO · Pawnee National Grassland. - Coordinates: 40.724943, -104.6222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7249&lon=-104.6222&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199973 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199973/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199973 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA146 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to maintain terrain clearance during an attempted go-around, which resulted in a collision with a fence post. ## 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported the airplane was flown over a remote grassland area to perform a simulated engine failure with the student pilot. During the maneuver, the flight instructor commanded a go-around about 300 to 400 ft above ground level. The student pilot hesitated, he retracted the flaps without adding power, and the flight instructor took the fight controls to complete the go-around. When the flaps were retracted, the airplane’s stall warning horn activated. As the flight instructor attempted to recover from the possible aerodynamic stall situation, the main landing gear settled onto the ground and the left wing impacted a fence post. The left wing became separated from the fuselage, the airplane traveled through a fence, and it came to rest partially upright on a pasture. The flight instructor and student pilot were able to egress from the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The flight instructor reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor further reported that the accident could have been prevented by an improved briefing with the student on training procedures prior to the flight and utilizing a higher go-around altitude during the maneuver to maintain terrain clearance. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8282V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8282V), registered now, S/N 28-8116060, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (161) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8116060 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 6110 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ensemble Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 8, 2024 - Departed: GXY, Greeley, CO - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 63; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 21, 2025; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 35,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 25,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 27; injuries: none; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10 total, 10 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KGXY, 17 nm away - METAR: KGXY 071456Z 24003KT 10SM CLR 07/M03 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP215 T00671028 50008 ## 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 20250407004429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250407004429A), Apr 7, 2025: Piper PA-28-161, Ault, CO, Substantial damage. Practicing simulated engine failure. Flaps were retracted too quickly resulting in hard ground impact. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199973. 8.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18652989&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20-%20CEN25LA146_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18652509&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Accident flight ADS-B data (.kmz file) (item 3, KMZ, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18652999&FileExtension=kmz&FileName=20250407_AB5145_584044967-Rel.kmz - Accident flight ADS-B data (.xlsx file) (item 4, XLSX, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18653743&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=20250407_AB5145_584044967_ADSB-Rel.xlsx 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.