# NTSB GAA16CA501: Piper PA28R, N3803T, Ottumwa, IA, September 21, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 21, 2016, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Ottumwa, IA - Coordinates: 41.106388, -92.449722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1064&lon=-92.4497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94060 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA501 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94060/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94060 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA501 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle-of-attack during a simulated engine failure and landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. ## 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-28R-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/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-28R-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that the pilot receiving instruction was demonstrating a power-off 180 degree landing. He further reported that as the airplane entered a close-in base to final approach, the airspeed slowed and the stall warning light started to flicker. The flight instructor reported that he stated to the pilot flying, "nose down, nose down," and waited for him to correct. Subsequently, the flight instructor took the flight controls, but as he did so, the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and touched down hard on the runway. During the landing roll, the flight instructor reported that he lost rudder authority but was able to use differential braking to maintain directional control and taxi off the runway. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that the pilot receiving instruction was demonstrating a power-off 180 degree landing. He further reported that as the airplane entered a close-in base to final approach, the airspeed slowed and the stall warning light started to flicker. The flight instructor reported that he stated to the pilot flying, "nose down, nose down," and waited for him to correct. Subsequently, the flight instructor took the flight controls, but as he did so, the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and touched down hard on the runway. During the landing roll, the flight instructor reported that he lost rudder authority but was able to use differential braking to maintain directional control and taxi off the runway. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3803T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3803T-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 28R-30117, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R (180) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-30117 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 3927 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B1E 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Indian Hills Community College - Registered owner: Archangel Services LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 31, 2016 - Departed: OTM, OTTUMWA, IA - Destination: OTM, OTTUMWA, IA - Airport: OTM, Ottumwa Rgnl, runway 13, 5,885 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 29, 2016; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,215 total, 9 in this make and model, 1,180 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 15, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 190 total, 11 in this make and model, 163 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KOTM ## 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 20160921019519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160921019519A), Sep 21, 2016: Piper PA-28R-180, Ottumwa, IA, Substantial damage. During the final turn of a power-off 180 degree landing, a loss of airspeed caused the aircraft (Piper arrow PA-28R 180) N3803T to stall which led to a hard… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 10, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94060. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446342&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 607 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446343&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.