ERA19LA052

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA28 · Barnesville, GA · November 17, 2018

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 17, 2018, 11:12 local (16:12 UTC)
Place
Barnesville, GA
Injuries
2 minor, 2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N111TAPiper PA28
Defining event
Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 13, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20181117022649A
Case key
98663

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 student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in an off-runway landing and subsequent collision with trees.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilotPiper PA-28-180: 67 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parametersAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedPiper PA-28-180: 7 casesAll aircraft: 1,269 casesProbable cause
Action: delayed actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilotPiper PA-28-180: 10 casesAll aircraft: 894 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: tree(s)Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationPiper PA-28-180: 14 casesAll aircraft: 933 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The flight instructor reported that the student pilot was taking off for an instructional flight from an upsloping, 3,000-ft-long turf runway with 7- to 8-knot headwinds. The airspeed reached 65 knots and was increasing at the predesignated decision point, which was about 60% of the runway length. After takeoff, the airplane unexpectedly banked left. The student called out that the flight controls were not responding, and the instructor simultaneously took the controls. Realizing that the airplane would not clear trees at the departure end of the runway, the instructor chose to land the airplane straight ahead and aim it between trees. The airplane touched down about 200 ft before the trees and traveled forward until it struck several of them, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Further, flight control continuity was confirmed from the flight control surfaces to the cockpit controls. Given that no mechanical anomalies were found during postaccident examination of the airframe, it is likely that the student failed to maintain airplane control during takeoff and that the flight instructor's delayed remedial action resulted in the subsequent off-runway landing.

Factual narrative

On November 17, 2018, about 1112 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N111TA, was substantially damaged after a collision with trees and terrain at Little Tobesofkee Creek Ranch Airport (GA86), Barnesville, Georgia. The flight instructor and student pilot incurred minor injuries, and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated by Clear Blue Sky Aviation LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight to Macon Downtown Airport (MCN), Macon, Georgia. The instructional flight that originating at the time of the accident.The flight instructor reported that runway 35 was selected for the takeoff due to the prevailing wind out of the north at 7 to 8 kts. The student was at the controls for the takeoff. The takeoff was initiated and acceleration seemed normal, considering the runway upslope and 3,000 ft-long turf surface. The airspeed reached 65 kts and was increasing at the predesignated decision point, which was about 60% of the runway length. After takeoff, the airplane banked to the left unexpectedly. The instructor did not recall the stall warning light illuminating. The student called out a lack of responsiveness from the flight controls and the flight instructor simultaneously took the controls. The pilots realized that the airplane would not clear trees at the departure end of the runway, so the flight instructor elected to land the airplane straight ahead and aim it between the trees. The airplane touched down about 200 ft from the trees and continued until it struck several small trees and one large tree. The airplane came to a stop, the engine was secured, and the pilots and passengers egressed the airplane and were met by first responders. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The airplane crashed in a wooded area to the north of the airport boundary. Structural damage occurred to the wings and fuselage. There was no fire. The wreckage was recovered to a salvage facility where a more detailed examination was performed. The fuselage was generally intact. Both wings were cut off near the wing roots by recovery personnel. The right wing exhibited leading edge crushing signatures from contact with trees. The aileron cables were cut by recovery personnel. The aileron cables were otherwise connected to the ailerons and the ailerons were connected to the attachment points on the wings. Aileron cable continuity was established from the cut ends at the wing roots to the control yokes. Elevator and rudder continuity were confirmed from the control surfaces to the cockpit controls. The vertical stabilizer, rudder, and stabilator were undamaged. The engine remained attached to the firewall. The metal, fixed pitch propeller remained attached to the crankshaft. The engine crankshaft was turned through manually by turning the propeller. Internal enginecontinuity was confirmed. Compression and suction were observed on all cylinders. Valve action was normal on all cylinders. The engine contained oil. Both spark plugs were removed from each cylinder. They were normal in color and wear when compared to a Champion inspection chart. The carburetor was intact. The venturi and floats were in place and undamaged. The gascolator was drained and it contained about 1 oz of clean, blue-colored fuel. Both magnetos produced a visible spark at all leads when rotated. The stall warning light operated normally when tested. The airplane was not equipped with a stall warning horn.

Aircraft

Registration
N111TA
Reported as
Piper PA28 (180)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-3746
Built
1966
Airframe hours
5,400
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A4A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 1, 2018 · 3 hours before
Departed
GA86 · Barnesville, GA
Destination
MAC · Macon, GA
Airport
GA86 · Little Tobesofkee, runway 35, 3,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Equipment
Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display

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
60
Injuries
Minor
Certificates
Airline transport, Private, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 27, 2017
Seat
Right
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
5,300 total · 600 in this make and model · 5,000 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Student pilot
Age
48
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Student
Seat
Left
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
12 total · 12 in this make and model · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
10° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
59 °F, dew point 36 °F
Altimeter
30.26 inHg
Observed at
KOPN, 8 nm away

Docket · 6

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 20, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.8 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

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