GAA18CA193

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA28 · Phoenix, AZ · April 1, 2018

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 1, 2018, 13:53 local (20:53 UTC)
Place
Phoenix, AZ
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N297PAPiper PA28
Defining event
Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 5, 2018
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20180401003239A
Case key
96965

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 improper selection of the flap setting during a go-around, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Findings · 6

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.

Performance/control parameters: configurationAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operationPiper PA-28-181: 1 caseAll aircraft: 80 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilotPiper PA-28-181: 53 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Action: delayed actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilotPiper PA-28-181: 11 casesAll aircraft: 894 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: angle of attackAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedPiper PA-28-181: 7 casesAll aircraft: 990 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: sign/markerEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcomePiper PA-28-181: 8 casesAll aircraft: 214 cases
Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationPiper PA-28-181: 6 casesAll aircraft: 1,008 cases

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 he was conducting a lesson in takeoffs and landings and go-around procedures with the student pilot at the controls. During one particular go-around, the student retracted the flaps too far and the instructor stressed the importance of using the proper flap settings. On the subsequent downwind, the tower advised a crosswind from the south gusting to 18 knots. During the approach, the airplane drifted left of the runway centerline, so he called for the student to execute a go-around. The student pilot applied full power and reduced flaps from 40° to 10° (25º is prescribed in the go-around procedure). When the flight instructor noticed that the airplane was not climbing and the student was not correcting the course, the flight instructor took the flight controls. The flight instructor attempted to recover, but the airplane was in a nose-high attitude and struck the ground. The airplane then lifted off the ground and flew slowly toward a sign; the instructor "pulled up to avoid the sign," but the airplane struck the sign, aerodynamically stalled, and impacted the ground to the right of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the accident airport reported that, at the time of the accident, the wind was from 110° at 8 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 7L. The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3B, contains a section titled "Go-Arounds (Rejected Landings)" which states: After establishing the proper climb attitude and power settings, be concerned first with flaps and secondly with the landing gear (if retractable). When the decision is made to perform a go-around, takeoff power is applied immediately and the pitch attitude changed so as to slow or stop the descent. After the descent has been stopped, the landing flaps are partially retracted or placed in the takeoff position as recommended by the manufacturer. Caution must be used in retracting the flaps. Depending on the airplane's altitude and airspeed, it is wise to retract the flaps intermittently in small increments to allow time for the airplane to accelerate progressively as they are being raised. A sudden and complete retraction of the flaps could cause a loss of lift resulting in the airplane settling into the ground.

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that he was conducting a lesson in takeoffs and landings, and go-around procedures with the student pilot at the controls. During one particular go-around, the student retracted the flaps too far and the instructor stressed the importance of using the proper flap settings. On the subsequent downwind, the tower advised a crosswind from the south gusting to 18 knots. During the approach, the airplane drifted left of the runway centerline, so he called for the student to execute a go around. The student pilot applied full power and reduced flaps from 40° to 10° (25º prescribed in the go-around procedure). When the flight instructor noticed that the airplane was not climbing, and the student was not correcting the course, the flight instructor took the flight controls. The flight instructor attempted to recover, but the airplane was in a nose-high attitude and struck the ground. The airplane then lifted off the ground, flying slowly toward a sign, the instructor "pulled up to avoid the sign'" but the airplane struck the sign, aerodynamically stalled, and impacted the ground to the right of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the accident airport reported that, at the time of the accident, the wind was from 110° at 8 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 7L. Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3B, contains a section titled "Go-Arounds (Rejected Landings)" which states: After establishing the proper climb attitude and power settings, be concerned first with flaps and secondly with the landing gear (if retractable). When the decision is made to perform a go-around, takeoff power is applied immediately and the pitch attitude changed so as to slow or stop the descent. After the descent has been stopped, the landing flaps are partially retracted or placed in the takeoff position as recommended by the manufacturer. Caution must be used in retracting the flaps. Depending on the airplane's altitude and airspeed, it is wise to retract the flaps intermittently in small increments to allow time for the airplane to accelerate progressively as they are being raised. A sudden and complete retraction of the flaps could cause a loss of lift resulting in the airplane settling into the ground.

Aircraft

Registration
N297PA
Reported as
Piper PA28 (181)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
2843506
Built
2002
Airframe hours
18,692
Engine
Lycoming O-360 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
AeroGuard Flight Training Center
Registered owner
Bird Acquisition LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
AAIP · March 20, 2018
Departed
E25 · Wickenburg, AZ
Destination
DVT · Phoenix, AZ
Airport
DVT · Phoenix Deer Valley, runway 07L, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
Equipment
ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

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
32
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
January 22, 2018
Seat
Right
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
336.3 total · 73 in this make and model · 219.3 as pilot in command
Role
Student pilot
Age
24
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
110° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
86 °F, dew point 19 °F
Altimeter
29.80 inHg
Observed at
KDVT

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 23, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.1 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.