# NTSB ERA19CA289: Piper PA28, N6412W, Winder, GA, March 28, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 28, 2019, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Winder, GA - Coordinates: 33.982776, -83.667221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9828&lon=-83.6672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 27, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100700 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19CA289 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100700/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100700 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19CA289 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s loss of airplane control, the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, and the student's delay in relinquishing the flight controls, which resulted in the airplane striking a runway sign during a go-around. ## 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-28-140, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an instructional flight, the student pilot and flight instructor planned to stay in the traffic pattern to practice touch-and-go landings. During the third approach and just before the landing flare, the airplane began to drift to the right side of the runway. The instructor noticed that the student was cross controlling with the airplane's nose pointed right. He took over the controls and initiated a go-around, but the student did not immediately remove his feet from the rudder pedals, which made the instructor's control inputs "less effective." While still airborne, the airplane struck a runway sign. The instructor continued the go-around and landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The instructor reported that the flight controls were "free and correct" and that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative During an instructional flight, the student pilot and flight instructor planned to stay in the traffic pattern for touch and go landing practice. During the third approach, just prior to the landing flare, the airplane began to drift to the right side of the runway. The flight instructor noticed that the student was cross controlling with the nose of the airplane point towards the right. He took over the controls and initiated a go-around. The flight instructor stated that the student pilot did not immediately remove his feet from the rudder pedals, which made his control inputs "less effective." While still airborne, the airplane struck a runway sign. The flight instructor continued the go-around and landed without further incident. He reported that the flight controls were "free and correct" and did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6412W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6412W), registered now, S/N 28-20481, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (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: 28-20481 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 3999 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flying Otter Aviation Llc - Registered owner: Flying Otter Aviation Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 2019 - Departed: WDR, Winder, GA - Destination: WDR, Winder, GA - Airport: WDR, Barrow County, runway 31, 5,202 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 35; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: right; flight hours: 426 total, 66 in this make and model, 64 in the last 90 days - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: WDR ## 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 20190328002099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190328002099A), Mar 28, 2019: Piper PA-28-140, Winder, GA, Substantial damage. On 03/28/2019 at approximately 0900 local time, at kwdr airport. Winds 0.0KTS clr 09/00. Certified flight instructor was training a student pilot on traffic… ## Other investigations on N6412W (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 SEA70D0060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA70D0060), Jul 12, 1969: Piper PA-28 (N6412W), Eugene, OR, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100700. 1.5 MB in all. - Flight Instructor and Student Statements - and Info (item 1, .PDF, 666 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483992&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20and%20Student%20Statements%20-%20and%20Info%20-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483993&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 669 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483994&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.