# NTSB ERA21LA280: Piper PA28, N1592J, Bishopville, SC, July 7, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 7, 2021, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Bishopville, SC · RWY 24 - Coordinates: 34.246156, -80.233189 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2462&lon=-80.2332&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103435 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA280 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103435/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103435 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA280 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student during a go-around, which resulted in a loss of lift and a subsequent collision with the VASI lights. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/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 The flight instructor reported that while practicing short field takeoff and landing maneuvers with a helicopter rated commercial pilot, about 25 ft above the runway he called for a go-around when the approach became unstable. When it became apparent to the instructor that the airplane was not climbing, he started to manipulate the flight controls with the student to assist with the go-around maneuver, unaware that the student had retracted the flaps fully to 0° degrees. Subsequently, the airplane lost lift, descended, and struck the Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) lights before coming to rest in the grass, resulting in substantial damage to the stabilator. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact anomalies or malfunctions which would have precluded normal flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1592J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1592J-2022-09-01), registration cancelled 2022-09-01, S/N 28-24002, built 1967 (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: 28-24002 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 4703.73 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 17, 2020 - Airport: 52J, Lee County-Butters Fld, runway 06/24, 3,200 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, waiver time limited special; last flight review October 2, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 17,000 total, 50 in this make and model, 16,500 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; seat: left; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KHVS, 11 nm away - METAR: KHVS 071755Z AUTO 21008KT 10SM CLR 31/21 A3008 RMK AO2 ## 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 20210707012759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210707012759A), Jul 7, 2021: Piper PA-28-140, Bishopville, SC, Substantial damage. 7/7/21 Bishopville, SC (52J): N1592J, PA140, student pilot and instructor, landed short and hard on runway 24 striking the PAPI lights causing the nose gear to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103435. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12473946&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA21LA280%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Instructor and student statements (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 205 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12473612&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Instructor%20and%20Student%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12473816&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.