# NTSB GAA19CA212: Piper PA28, N425PA, Wickenburg, AZ, April 17, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 17, 2019, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Wickenburg, AZ - Coordinates: 33.970554, -112.794998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9706&lon=-112.7950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99281 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99281/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99281 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA212 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control during landing and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the subsequent aborted landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; 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. - [Approach: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [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) - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, on his second approach, he encountered "bumpy" air, and the airplane ballooned. He corrected by adding power, leveling the wings, and continuing the landing. Just before touchdown, the right wing lifted, and the airplane drifted left of the runway centerline. He applied power to go around, but the stall warning activated, and the airplane continued to drift left. Subsequently, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and collided with the ground and an airport taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The student reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident, the airport's automated weather reporting station reported that the wind was from 270° at 6 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 23. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that, on his second approach, he encountered "bumpy" air and the aircraft ballooned. He corrected by adding power, leveling the wings and continuing the landing. Just prior to touching down, the right wing raised, and the airplane drifted to the left. He applied power to go-around, the stall warning activated but the airplane continued to drift left. Subsequently, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and collided with the ground. Per the photos provided by the Federal Aviation Administration that the airplane also impacted an airport taxi way sign during the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident, the automated weather reporting station located at the airport, reported that the wind was from 270° at 6 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 23. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N425PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N425PA), registered now, S/N 2843474, built 2001 (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 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2843474 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 20333.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: AeroGuard Flight Training Center - Registered owner: Bird Acquisition Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 6, 2019 - Departed: E63, Gila Bend, AZ - Destination: E25, Wickenburg, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: E25, Wickenburg Muni, runway 23, 6,101 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 57 total, 57 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KBXK, 34 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 20190417010819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190417010819A), Apr 17, 2019: Piper PA-28-181, Wickenburg, AZ, Substantial damage. On April 17, 2019, at 10:09 MST, aircraft N425PA, a 2001 Piper archer iii, serial number 2843474, landed at Wickenburg, Arizona airport (E25). The aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 8, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99281. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 569 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472666&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Student Pilot's Statement from Flight School (item 2, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472667&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%27s%20Statement%20from%20Flight%20School-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 575 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472668&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.