DEN05LA133

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28R-180 · Ogden, UT · August 31, 2005

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 30, 2005, 18:26 local (Aug 31, 2005, 00:26 UTC)
Place
Ogden, UT
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N9069EPiper PA-28R-180
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 31, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA Flight Standards District Office
FAA report
20050830021219A
Case key
62379

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

the flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall. Contributing factor's include the flight instructor's improper pre-flight planning and decision in accepting the intersection departure, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the takeoff.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb
Airspeed - inadequateDual studentCause
Stall/mush - inadvertentPilot in command(cfi)
Aircraft control - not maintainedDual studentCause
Supervision - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)Factor
Preflight planning/preparation - improperPilot in command(cfi)Factor
In flight collision with objectClimb
Object - utility pole
In flight collision with objectDescent - uncontrolled
Object - residence

Analysis

According to the flight instructor, they were cleared to taxi and had accepted an intersection departure. During the initial takeoff, the private pilot was at the flight controls. The flight instructor reported that the private pilot rotated at "70 knots" and the airplane "jumped off the runway and drifted left and then made a slight hop on the main gear." The flight instructor stated that he took control of the airplane and held it "level in ground effect for several seconds to get it to accelerate." He stated that the stall horn was audible. The flight instructor stated that he initiated a slight turn to the right towards lower terrain. According to several witnesses the airplane appeared to be having difficulty climbing. The airplane struck a telephone pole, nosed down, and impacted the roof of a two story house, causing substantial damage to the house and destroying the airplane. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. The flight instructor stated the airplane was 300 pounds under gross weight. The control tower reported 4,700 feet available from the land and hold short line at intersection Delta to the end of runway 21. According to the AFM the airplane should have had a climb rate of 650 feet per minute. The distance required for take-off varied from approximately 2,000 feet (zero degrees flaps and no 50 foot obstacle) to 3,250 feet (zero degrees flaps with a 50 foot obstacle).

Factual narrative

On August 30, 2005, at 1826 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N9069E, operated by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted a telephone pole and house 1/2 mile southwest of the Ogden-Hinkley Airport (OGD), Ogden, Utah. A postimpact fire ensued. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The private certificated pilot and commercial certificated flight instructor sustained minor injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to a written statement submitted by the flight instructor, they were cleared to taxi to runway 21 and had accepted an intersection departure at intersection Delta. During the initial takeoff, the private pilot was at the flight controls. The flight instructor reported that the the private pilot rotated at "70 knots" and the airplane "jumped off the runway and drifted left and then made a slight hop on the main gear." The flight instructor stated that he took control of the airplane and held it "level in ground effect for several seconds to get it to accelerate." He stated that the stall horn was audible. The flight instructor stated that he initiated a slight turn to the right towards lower terrain.

According to the control tower operator at the Ogden-Hinkley Airport, the airplane appeared to be going up and down and he contacted the pilot to ask if they were having difficulty. The pilot reported they were "struggling." According to several witnesses the airplane appeared to be having difficulty climbing. The airplane struck a telephone pole, nosed down, and impacted the roof of a two story house. The left wing separated from the fuselage and came to rest outside of the house. The empennage, fuselage, right wing, and engine assembly came to rest inside the second story of the house. The airplane and a portion of the house were partially consumed by fire. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies.

The flight instructor stated the airplane was 300 pounds under gross weight. The OGD Control Tower reported 4,700 feet available from the land and hold short line at intersection Delta to the end of runway 21. According to the Piper Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM), the airplane should have had a climb rate of 650 feet per minute. The distance required for take-off varied from approximately 2,000 feet (zero degrees flaps and no 50 foot obstacle) to 3,250 feet (zero degrees flaps with a 50 foot obstacle). The Piper AFM recommends 25 degrees flaps for short field departure procedures with an obstacle. In addition, the Piper Owner's Manual recommends rotation between 60 and 70 miles per hour.

Aircraft

Registration
N9069E
Reported as
Piper PA-28R-180
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28R-30035
Airframe hours
6,607
Engine
Lycoming IO-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 1, 2005
Departed
OGD · Ogden, UT
Airport
OGD · Ogden-Hinckley, runway 21, 8,103 × 150 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
45
Injuries
Serious
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 1, 2005
Seat
Right
Flight hours
1,710 total · 190 in this make and model · 1,645 as pilot in command · 44 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot
Age
40
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 1, 2004
Seat
Left
Flight hours
164 total · 5 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
240° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 25 °F
Altimeter
30.14 inHg
Observed at
ODG, 1 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.