LAX01LA067

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-140 · Rosamond, CA · December 30, 2000

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
December 30, 2000, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
Place
Rosamond, CA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N61CSPiper PA-28-140
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 2, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20001230032899A
Case key
50853

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's improper airplane handling technique and inadequate airspeed during performance of an intentional soft field takeoff.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb
Soft field takeoff/procedure - attemptedPilot in command
Aircraft handling - improperPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with objectDescent - uncontrolled
Airspeed(vs) - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

The student pilot had previously practiced a soft field takeoff with his instructor, and he was authorized to attempt the maneuver by himself. The student extended the wing flaps to the customary second notch position and commenced the takeoff roll. The airplane accelerated, its nose pitched upward, and the airplane lifted off the ground in a nose high attitude. As the airplane departed ground effect, its high nose up pitch attitude did not decrease. The airplane yawed left, stalled, and descended until impacting the ground, a tree, and a building.

Factual narrative

On December 30, 2000, about 1430 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N61CS, operated by A.V. Aviation, Rosamond, California, collided with trees and a building during an attempted takeoff from runway 25 at the Rosamond Skypark, Rosamond. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot's solo instructional flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The student pilot's certified flight instructor (CFI) reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the accident occurred during his student's third supervised solo flight, and he witnessed the accident. The CFI stated that after providing about 0.9 hours of dual instruction, he exited the airplane and advised his student to stay in the traffic pattern. The student had previously performed a soft field takeoff, and he was permitted to practice the maneuver by himself. The CFI stated that the student lowered the wing flaps to the customary second notch position and commenced the takeoff roll from the beginning of the runway. The airplane's acceleration appeared normal. The airplane's nose pitched upward, and the airplane lifted off the ground in a nose high attitude. It appeared as though the student had over rotated. The airplane yawed left, and the pitch attitude did not decrease. The airplane climbed a few yards in the nose high attitude until departing ground effect, and then it descended until impacting the ground. The airplane came to rest upon colliding with a tree and a building.

The student pilot reported to the Safety Board investigator that he remembered becoming airborne and the airplane yawing left. He stated that he might not have applied sufficient right rudder to overcome the left turning tendency.

Aircraft

Registration
N61CS
Reported as
Piper PA-28-140
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-7325160
Engine
Lycoming O-320, 140 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
A.V. Aviation
Registered owner
Alfred G. Fattouch
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Departed
L00
Airport
L00 · Rosamond Skypark, runway 25, 3,600 × 50 ft, asphalt

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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
17
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
36 total · 11 in this make and model · 21 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
0 ft
Temperature
142 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
WJF, 8 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.