# NTSB CHI06CA082: Piper PA-28-140, N1877J, Backus, MN, February 20, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 20, 2006, 13:55 local (19:55 UTC)
- Place: Backus, MN
- Coordinates: 46.833332, -94.511665
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8333&lon=-94.5117&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63311
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63311/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA082

## Probable cause

The airplane stalled as a result of the low airspeed and the instructor pilot's failure to take remedial action.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - airspeed - low, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - stall - encountered, pilot in command(cfi)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - snowbank

## Analysis

The airplane sustained substantial damage during a loss of control while on short final for landing during an instructional flight.  The instructor pilot reported that the airplane was on downwind and was about to turn to the base leg when he pulled the power and informed the dual student that he had an engine failure (simulated).  The dual student turned toward the runway, but when the airplane had just cleared some trees and was about 50 to 60 feet above ground level (agl), the dual student released the yoke and told the instructor that it was "his airplane."  The instructor pilot reported that he took control of the yoke and banked sharply toward the runway.  He detected a high sink rate and "called for power but none was applied."  The instructor pilot reported that the airplane stalled about 20 feet agl, and contacted the runway and a snow bank.  In a written statement, the instructor pilot reported, "We should have had a more positive change of command.  I was wondering when he was going to add power and apparently he thought that I was flying the plane."

## Factual narrative

The airplane sustained substantial damage during a loss of control while on short final for landing during an instructional flight.  The instructor pilot reported that the airplane was on downwind and was about to turn to the base leg when he pulled the power and informed the dual student that he had an engine failure (simulated).  The dual student turned toward the runway, but when the airplane had just cleared some trees and was about 50 to 60 feet above ground level (agl), the dual student released the yoke and told the instructor that it was "his airplane."  The instructor pilot reported that he took control of the yoke and banked sharply toward the runway.  He detected a high sink rate and "called for power but none was applied."  The instructor pilot reported that the airplane stalled about 20 feet agl, and contacted the runway and a snow bank.  In a written statement, the instructor pilot reported, "We should have had a more positive change of command.  I was wondering when he was going to add power and apparently he thought that I was flying the plane."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1877J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1877J-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 28-24320, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-24320
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: William Kaiser
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 7Y3, Backus, MN
- Airport: 7Y3, Backus Airport, runway 15

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 8,200 total, 75 in this make and model, 66 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days
- Student pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 222 total, 124 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20060220002739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060220002739A), Feb 20, 2006: Piper PA28140, Backus, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) Practice emergency landing, private pilot allowed aircraft to develop a high sink rate and a cross wind over some trees added to the sink rate.…

## Other investigations on N1877J (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 MKC72DCG64](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72DCG64), Jun 9, 1972: Piper PA-28 (N1877J), Basehor, KS, substantial damage

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.

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