# NTSB GAA19CA280: Piper PA28, N7855W, Charlotte, NC, May 9, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 9, 2019, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Charlotte, NC - Coordinates: 35.213054, -80.668052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2131&lon=-80.6681&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99489 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA280 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99489/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99489 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA280 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper attempted go-around and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall followed by a hard landing, runway excursion, and impact with vegetation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-28-180, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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-28-180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, during landing on a 40-ft-wide runway, a wind gust pushed the airplane left of the centerline. While correcting back to centerline, the flight instructor told the student that the airplane was slow, so the student added power. While on short final, the instructor told the student to initiate a go-around and to "go full power." While initiating a climb, the student heard the stall warning horn, and the instructor told him to "get the nose down." As the student lowered the nose, he felt a hard "bump" as the airplane touched down on the runway. The airplane veered left off the runway, struck vegetation, and spun around. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that, during landing to a 40 ft wide runway, a wind gust pushed the airplane to the left. While correcting back to centerline, the flight instructor mentioned that they were slow, so the student added power. While on short final, the instructor told him to initiate a go around and to "go full power", and the student initiated a climb. He heard the stall warning horn and the instructor told him to "get the nose down." As the student lowered the nose, he felt a hard "bump" as the airplane touched down on the runway. The airplane veered left, struck vegetation, and spun around. 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 about 11 miles north, reported that, about 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 190° at 9 knots. The student pilot landed the airplane on runway 17. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7855W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7855W-2020-10-31), registration cancelled 2020-10-31, S/N 28-1875, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (180) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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: 28-1875 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 3302 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Alpha One Air Service, LLC - Registered owner: Metrology Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 8, 2019 - Departed: EQY, Monroe, NC - Destination: 8A6, Charlotte, NC - Airport: 8A6, Wilgrove Air Park, runway 17, 2,835 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 72; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 8, 2018; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,202 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 32.5 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 68; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 124.6 total, 90 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KJQF, 11 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 20190509004269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190509004269A), May 9, 2019: Piper PA-28-180, Charlotte, NC, Substantial damage. The student was the pilot flying on final approach to wilgrove airpark runway 17 when the flight instructor noticed the aircraft was too slow and told the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 2, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99489. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473863&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Student Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473864&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 329 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473865&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.