# NTSB ERA15LA315: Piper PA 28-161, N82587, Bristow, VA, August 16, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2015, 09:06 local (13:06 UTC) - Place: Bristow, VA - Coordinates: 38.743888, -77.549163 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7439&lon=-77.5492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 11, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91792 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA315 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91792/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91792 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA315 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during approach, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the student’s distraction due to other traffic in the airport traffic pattern. ## 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 · Student/instructed 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: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: 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) ## Analysis The student pilot was conducting a solo flight and stated that, while on approach for landing, she had just reduced engine power when the tower controller asked her to extend the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern due to other traffic. She subsequently became distracted looking for the other traffic and did not increase engine power to maintain altitude. The controller then instructed her to turn onto the base leg and she complied; however, the airplane continued to descend and collided with trees before coming to rest upright on the ground. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the student pilot report any. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2015, at 0906 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N82587, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain in Bristow, Virginia. The student pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local solo instructional flight was operating in the airport traffic pattern at Manassas Regional Airport (HEF), Manassas, Virginia and was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the student pilot stated that she had just reduced engine power and air traffic control asked her to extend the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern due to other traffic. She became distracted looking for the other traffic and did not increase engine power to maintain altitude. Air traffic control then instructed her to turn base leg of the airport traffic pattern and she complied; however, the airplane continued to descend and collided with trees, before coming to rest upright on the ground. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the student pilot report any. The inspector noted damage to both wings and the fuselage. The recorded weather at HEF, at 0855, included wind from 180 at 3 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, sky clear, temperature 25 degrees C, dew point 20 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.17 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82587](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82587-2018-08-10), registration cancelled 2018-08-10, S/N 28-8116026, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-161 (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: 28-8116026 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 15180 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Dulles Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Dulles Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 2015 - Departed: HEF, Manassas, VA - Destination: HEF, Manassas, VA - Airport: HEF, Manassas Regional Airport, runway 16R, 3,715 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 50; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 59 total, 59 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: HEF, 2 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20150816016139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150816016139A), Aug 16, 2015: Piper PA-28-161, Bristow, VA, Destroyed. Student pilot was conducting takeoffs and landings during her 6th solo at manassas airport - hef. Student pilot reduced power to begin the landing descent when… ## Other investigations on N82587 (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 NYC85LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA020), Oct 27, 1984: Piper PA-28-161 (N82587), Farmington, PA, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 19, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91792. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464190&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464191&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 433 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464192&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.