# NTSB GAA18CA102: Piper PA 28, N7085R, Corona, CA, January 13, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 13, 2018, 12:09 local (20:09 UTC) - Place: Corona, CA - Coordinates: 33.897777, -117.6025 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8978&lon=-117.6025&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96604 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96604/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96604 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA102 ## Probable cause The student pilot and flight instructor’s failure to see and avoid powerlines during a simulated emergency landing, which resulted in a wire strike during a go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/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) - [Landing: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, during an off-airport simulated engine failure with a 180° turn, he called for a go-around upon completion of the maneuver. The student initiated the go-around, but the airplane struck power line wires. The flight instructor landed the airplane in a field, and the nose landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. The flight instructor reported that this accident could have been prevented by performing a ground reconnaissance of unfamiliar practice areas to assess for hazards to flight. The flight instructor will also initiate simulated engine failures at a higher altitude to enable recovery at no less than 500ft above ground level. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the flight instructor, during an off-airport simulated engine failure with a 180° turn, he called for a go-around upon completion of the maneuver. The student initiated the go-around, but the airplane struck powerline wires. The flight instructor landed the airplane in a field, and the nose landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. Per the National Transportation Safety Board's Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported in the Safety Recommendation section, that this accident could have been prevented by performing a ground reconnaissance of unfamiliar practice areas to assess for hazards to flight. The flight instructor will also initiate simulated engine failures at a higher altitude, to enable a go-around at no less than 500ft above ground level. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7085R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7085R), registered now, S/N 28-21788, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28 (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: 28-21788 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 9089.69 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Dubois Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Dubois Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 28, 2017 - Departed: CNO, Chino, CA - Destination: CNO, Chino, CA - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review October 5, 2016; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,015 total, 700 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command, 115 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 3.4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 56; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 55 total, 14 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 12 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KAJO ## 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 20180113007379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180113007379A), Jan 13, 2018: Piper PA-28-140, Corona, CA, Substantial damage. The instructor pilot was working on performing a simulated engine failure with the student pilot. They started the maneuver at 4000 ft AGL. During the descent… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 17, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96604. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463318&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463319&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%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.