# NTSB DEN04LA009: Piper PA-28-140, N891GP, Las Cruces, NM, October 12, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 12, 2003, 14:08 local (20:08 UTC) - Place: Las Cruces, NM - Coordinates: 32.289443, -106.921943 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2894&lon=-106.9219&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58155 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58155/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA009 ## Probable cause the CFI's failure to maintain aircraft control during a go-around resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush and impact with terrain. Contributing factors include the CFI's inadequate supervision, the private pilot's delayed relinquishing of control, and the inadvertent stall/mush. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - relinquishing of control - delayed, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, go-around (vfr) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), they were stopping for fuel. The private pilot, flying the airplane from the left seat, was attempting to land on runway 08. During the landing flare, a wind gust caused the airplane to drift left of the runway centerline. The private pilot corrected the left drift, pulled the throttle, and continued to land. The CFI stated that upon touchdown, the airplane "immediately veered hard to the left about a 60 degree angle." At that point the CFI added power and initiated a go-around. During the attempted go-around, the private pilot pulled the throttle a second time. The CFI said that he then "took control of the airplane and put the power back in for a go-around." He said he managed to get the airplane airborne, but was not attempting to correct for the drift because they were too "low and slow." As the airplane approached the end of the runway, the airplane began to mush and the right main landing gear struck a patch of sagebrush. The airplane struck the ground and bounced a few feet before impacting a dirt berm. ## Factual narrative On October 12, 2003, at 1408 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N891GP, owned by New Mexico Flying Eagle Inc., and operated by Arizona Aero Tech, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a go-around at Las Cruces International Airport (LRU), Las Cruces, New Mexico. The commercial certificated flight instructor (CFI) and a private certificated pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for this positioning flight being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight from Amarillo, Texas, to Albuquerque, New Mexico, originated at 1100. According to the CFI, they were repositioning the airplane for Arizona Aero Tech and were stopping at Las Cruces for fuel. The private pilot, flying the airplane from the left seat, was attempting to land on runway 08. During the landing flare, a wind gust caused the airplane to drift left of the runway centerline. The private pilot corrected the left drift, pulled the throttle, and continued to land. The CFI stated that upon touchdown, the airplane "immediately veered hard to the left about a 60 degree angle." At that point the CFI added power and initiated a go-around. During the attempted go-around, the private pilot pulled the throttle a second time. The CFI said that he then "took control of the airplane and put the power back in for a go-around." He said he managed to get the airplane airborne, but was not attempting to correct for the drift because they were too "low and slow." As the airplane approached the end of the runway, the airplane began to mush and the right main landing gear struck a patch of sagebrush. The airplane struck the ground and bounced a few feet before impacting a dirt berm. The impact with the berm separated the right main landing gear and displaced the right wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N891GP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N891GP), registered now, S/N 28-23847, built 1967 (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: 28-23847 - Airframe hours: 2500 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: New Mexico Flying Eagle Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2003 - Departed: AMA, Amarillo, TX - Destination: AEG, Albuquerque, NM - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LRU, Las Cruces International, runway 30, 7,494 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 3, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 485 total, 11 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 122 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC) - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: LRU ## 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 20031012027439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031012027439A), Oct 12, 2003: Piper PA28140, Las Cruces, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 12, 2003, at 1408 MDT, a Piper PA-28-140, N891P, registered to rome sherrod ii, collided with foliage on landing at Las Cruces airport, Las… 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.