# NTSB GAA19CA088: Piper PA28, N839AL, Cornelia, GA, December 5, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 5, 2018, 15:35 local (20:35 UTC) - Place: Cornelia, GA - Coordinates: 34.499443, -83.55722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4994&lon=-83.5572&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98740 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98740/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98740 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA088 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to maintain the runway heading during an attempted takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: 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) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, during a touch-and-go landing in crosswind conditions and with the student pilot on the controls, the airplane touched down on the runway centerline "but without perfect longitudinal (heading) alignment," and the airplane then veered left. The instructor took control of the airplane and added power to take off, but she did not retract any of the "partial" flaps. She maintained the "slightly" offset direction from the runway during the takeoff roll, and the airplane became airborne as it exited the left side of the runway. The left wing impacted trees and brush. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest at the bottom of a ravine. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 330° at 7 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 6. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that, during a touch and go landing in a crosswind, and the student pilot on the controls, the airplane touched down on the runway centerline, "but without perfect longitudinal (heading) alignment", and the airplane veered left. The instructor took control of the airplane, added power to takeoff, but did not retract any of the "partial" flaps. She maintained the "slightly" offset direction during the takeoff roll and the airplane became airborne as it exited the left side of the runway. The left wing impacted trees and brush. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest at the bottom of a ravine. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right 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 at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was 330° at 7 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The airplane landed on runway 6. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N839AL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N839AL), registered now, S/N 2843412, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (181) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2843412 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 6520.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-36A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 29, 2018 - Departed: AJR, Cornelia, GA - Destination: AJR, Cornelia, GA - Airport: AJR, Habersham County, runway 06, 5,506 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 44; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 10, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 94 in the last 90 days, 40.5 in the last 30 days, 3.7 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 32 total, 10.6 in this make and model, 8.3 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 21 °F - Observed at: KAJR ## 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 20181205023219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181205023219A), Dec 5, 2018: Piper PA-28-181, Cornelia, GA, Substantial damage. CFI was performing touch and goes with a student pilot. After several touch and goes, CFI was struggling to keep aircraft on centerline of runway, due to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98740. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 952 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471272&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Instructor Statement (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471273&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Instructor%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 306 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471274&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-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.