# NTSB GAA17CA189: Piper PA 28, N288PA, Gila Bend, AZ, March 12, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 11, 2017, 19:00 local (Mar 12, 2017, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Gila Bend, AZ - Coordinates: 32.960277, -112.673614 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9603&lon=-112.6736&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 22, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94875 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94875/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94875 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA189 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to review the notices to airmen related to the airport, which resulted in his landing on a closed runway and the airplane striking runway closed markers. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=7102807), [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. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that he and two student pilots were on a night, visual flight rules, instructional flight. The instructor tried to activate the pilot-controlled lighting at the destination airport, but he believed that it was inoperative. He reported that he could see the wind sock on the airfield but that he did not see the "X" near the runway numbers and performed a touch and go. During rotation the instructor reported that, "I heard a red cone make impact with the nose gear section." He had to apply continuous forward pressure to the yoke because the nose continued to pitch up with the trim set to the full-down position. He asserted that the flight characteristics were "acceptable" and continued the flight about 47 nautical miles to their home airport. Upon arrival, the instructor alerted the tower that he had a stabilator malfunction and landed the airplane with zero flaps. The instructor reported that he did not check the notices to airmen (NOTAM). The airplane sustained substantial damage to the stabilator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to Federal Aviation Administration NOTAM 03/058, the airport runways were closed at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that he and two student pilots were on a night, visual flight rules, instructional flight. The instructor tried to activate the pilot controlled lighting at the destination airport, but he believed that it was inoperative. He reported that he could see the wind sock on the airfield but he did not see the "X" near the runway numbers and performed a touch and go. During rotation the instructor reported that, "I heard a red cone make impact with the nose gear section." He had to apply continuous forward pressure to the yoke because the nose continued to pitch up with the trim set to the full down position. He asserted that the flight characteristics were "acceptable" and continued the flight about 47 nautical miles to their home airport. Upon arrival, the instructor alerted tower that he had a stabilator malfunction and landed the airplane with zero flaps. The instructor reported that he did not check the Notices to Airman. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the stabilator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to Federal Aviation Administration NOTAM 03/058, the airport runways were closed at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N288PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N288PA), registered now, S/N 2843502, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28 (181) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2843502 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 16919 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bird Acquisition LLC - Registered owner: Bird Acquisition LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, March 9, 2017 - Departed: CHD, CHANDLER, AZ - Destination: E63, Gila Bend, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: E63, Gila Bend Muni, runway 22, 5,200 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: none; flight hours: 390 total, 140 in this make and model, 320 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: front; restraint: none; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 330° at 3 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KBXK, 27 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 20170311001319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170311001319A), Mar 11, 2017: Piper PA-28-181, Gila Bend, AZ, Substantial damage. Flight instructor chose to land at a closed runway by NOTAM, in the dark causing substantial damage to the aircraft empanage. Pilot did not stop on the runway… ## Other investigations on N288PA (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 LAX03LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA228), Jul 7, 2003: Piper PA-28-181 (N288PA), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The disengagement of the left control wheel from the control column, which was due to the attaching screw backing out of the nut plate. Also causal was the manufacturer's inadequate design of the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94875. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455684&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Runway Closure NOTAM (item 2, .PDF, 468 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455685&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Runway%20Closure%20NOTAM-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 848 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455686&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.