- Date
- September 29, 2018, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Spokane, WA
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N40825Piper PA28
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 8, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180929016479A
- Case key
- 98401
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 pilot’s improper retraction of the flaps during a go-around, which resulted in the airplane’s failure to climb and its subsequent collision with trees.
Findings · 5
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.
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 noninstructor-rated pilot reported that he agreed to go flying with a student pilot in the student's airplane and act as pilot-in-command while seated in the right seat. During the approach to land with the student on the controls, the airplane was high, but with the "airfield made," the student selected full flaps. According to the pilot, the airplane "got slow and low," and the student initiated a go-around, during which, in a single motion, the pilot raised the flaps to the full-up position, and the airplane "struggled to fly and climb." Subsequently, the airplane impacted trees at the end of the runway and came to rest on its right side. The pilot added that the Pilot's Operating Handbook states that the flaps should be retracted one notch at a time. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The non-instructor rated pilot reported that he agreed to go flying with a student pilot in the student's airplane, and act as pilot in command while seated in the right seat. During the approach to land, with the student on the controls, the airplane was high, but with the "airfield made", full flaps were selected. According to the pilot, the airplane "got slow and low" and the student initiated a go around. During the go around, in a single motion, the pilot raised the flaps to the full up position and the airplane "struggled to fly and climb". Subsequently, the airplane impacted trees at the end of the runway and came to rest on its right side. The pilot added that the pilot operating handbook states that the flaps should be retracted one notch at a time. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N40825
- Reported as
- Piper PA28 (140)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7425174
- Built
- 1974
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E3D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 6, 2017
- Departed
- SFF · Spokane, WA
- Destination
- 12WA · Cheney, WA
- Airport
- 12WA · Fowlers Nw 40, runway 03, 1,550 × 200 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Handheld GPS
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
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 20, 2018
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 730 total · 197.8 in this make and model · 580.7 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 42
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 63.4 total · 9.8 in this make and model · 8 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- KGEG, 7 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.1 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.