LAX06FA200

The high-wing airplane descended into terrain during a spin training flight. Review of recorded radar data found that the accident flight appeared to last about 0.7 hours, during which time the airplane completed about 7 stall/spin maneuvers, all of which consisted of climbs and subsequent quick losses of altitude (about 1,000 feet). The last two radar returns were at 5,500 and 3,400 feet mean sea level, respectively, and spanned about 20 seconds. The flight instructor conducted an uneventful 1.2-hour spin training flight in the accident airplane on the morning of the accident. The student pilot on the accident flight was enrolled in a course to receive his certified flight instructor certificate, which required spin training. The student had never flown in a high-wing airplane. Two of his past flight instructors recalled several occasions in which he locked his grip on the flight controls, failing to relinquish control or allow the instructors to move the controls. The airplane was determined to be within the allowable weight and center of gravity (CG) envelope for operations. The ground scars and wreckage deformation was consistent with the airplane impacting the ground in a spin. Post accident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure.

History of flight

On June 08, 2006, about 1530 mountain standard time, a Cessna 152, N627PA, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain near Peoria, Arizona. Pan Am International Flight Academy was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI), who held a commercial pilot certificate, and the second pilot, who held a commercial pilot certificate, were fatally injured. The CFI was providing dual flight instruction to the second pilot. The local training flight departed from Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, about 1445. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed.

According to the operator, the flight was scheduled as a spin training lesson. The second pilot was enrolled in the multiengine CFI course, which required spin training as part of the curriculum.

Recorded radar data covering the area of the accident was supplied by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the form of a National Track Analysis Program (NTAP) printout from the Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center (ABQ ARTCC). The radar data was examined for the accident time frame, and a 1200 beacon code was observed that matched the anticipated flight track of the airplane en route from Deer Valley Airport to the accident area.

The radar data spanned from 1448:40 to 1527:45. The data displayed radar returns that started at Deer Valley Airport and headed in a northwesterly direction, gradually increasing in altitude towards the practice area northeast of the Luke Air Force Base Alert Area A-231. The returns showed a gradual climb of about 380 feet per minute until reaching a mode C reported altitude of 6,100 feet mean sea level (msl) at 1458:06. The target maintained a northerly path around 6,000 feet msl until 1504:11, after which the radar returns reflected a turn to the west.

A review of the remaining data disclosed that the returns made several counterclockwise circular revolutions and zigzags from 1504:21 to 1527:25. During this period the radar returns indicated an oscillation in altitude of approximately 1,000 feet over 1- to 2-minute intervals. In this duration, the returns showed seven similar patterns where there was a short climb followed by a quick loss of altitude. At 1527:25, the target was identified at 5,500 feet msl and the following radar return at 1527:45, which was the last return, revealed an altitude of 3,400 feet msl. The last two radar returns are consistent with a descent from 2,100 feet to 1,250 feet above ground level (agl), in 20 seconds.

According to radar data recorded by the Luke Air Force Base (LUF) terminal radar system, at 1527:24, a visual flight rules (VFR) target (beacon code 1200) was operating in an area located 19-20 nautical miles north of LUF in the vicinity of the Quintero golf course. The track information showed radar returns at 5,600 feet msl, following a course of approximately 045 degrees with ground speed approximately 70 knots. At 1527:29, the track altitude indicated 5,300 feet msl with a of ground speed 70 knots. At 1527:34, the target information and target trails indicated a turn to the east with an altitude of 4,600 feet msl, at 60 knots. Ten seconds later, the radar replay showed that the targets made a hard right turn, rolling out on approximately a 355-degree course. The returns descended to 4,100 feet msl, at approximately 50 knots ground speed. At 1527:49, the returns were tracking approximately 330 degrees, at an altitude of 3,200 feet msl and 40 knots ground speed. The last radar return occurred at 1527:54; it showed an altitude of 2,800 feet msl, with a ground speed of 30 knots.

Personnel information

Flight Instructor

A review of the records maintained by the FAA disclosed that the instructor held a CFI certificate with airplane ratings for single engine and multiengine land, as well as instrument flight. Her most recent first-class medical certificate was issued on October 26, 2005, and contained no limitations.

A Safety Board investigator reviewed the flight instructor's personal flight logbooks. The two bound books encompassed entries dating from July 08, 2002, to May 12, 2006. According to the logbooks, her total flight experience was 903.3 hours, with 727.4 as pilot-in-command. She had amassed 428.2 hours in the capacity of flight instructing, of which 11 hours was conducted in a Cessna 152. The Cessna flight time was characterized as spin training in the remarks section of the flight log; all of the spin training flights were conducted in the accident airplane.

One of the logbooks indicated that on May 01, 2006, the flight instructor received 1.2 hours of dual instruction in the accident airplane toward a "spin checkout." The other Cessna time showed in the logbooks was listed as "stalls and spins," and conducted in August 2003 (1.3 hours) and January 2004 (1.3 hours). For the later entry there was a corresponding endorsement in the back of the logbook for instructional proficiency in stall awareness and spins (FAR 61.183(i)).

The operator provided a computer printout of the flight instructor's flight time in the Cessna 152 airplane. From May 2006 to the date of the accident, she accrued 32 hours over 23 flights; 14.5 hours were flown in the accident airplane. The flight instructor's last flight was documented by both the operator's electronic records and the airplane's status sheet. On the morning of the accident she conducted a spin training flight that was 1.2 hours.

Second Pilot

The second pilot (undergoing instruction) held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane ratings for multiengine land and instrument flight. He additionally held a private pilot certificate with a rating for single engine airplanes. His most recent first-class medical certificate was issued without limitations on June 20, 2005.

According to the operator, the pilot had acquired his total flight experience with their school. At the time of the accident, the pilot was enrolled in a course to receive his CFI certificate.

A review was conducted of the pilot's flight logbooks, which the dates ranged from July 30, 2005, to June 02, 2006. During that time, the logbooks indicated that he had amassed 201.7 hours total flight experience, all of which was conducted in low-wing Piper airplanes and flight simulators. There were no written remarks in his logbook that indicated he had received flight spin training. A flight instructor had however signed his logbook stating that on June 06, 2006, he had given the pilot 1 hour of ground instruction on "spins, spin entries, recovery procedures, stall/spin aerodynamics."

The logbooks disclosed that throughout his flying experience he consistently flew about one to two times per week. An entry was made on April 21, 2006, indicating that he took his commercial checkride, and only three flights were logged thereafter: May 10 and 17, followed by the last entry June 02; these flights totaled 2.8 hours. The operator provided a copy of the pilot's account, which revealed that he additionally flew 1.8 hours during that time (not shown in logbooks). The account paperwork also showed two "no-show" flights during that period. The pilot had originally enrolled in ground school toward the CFI certificate on April 03, 2006, but dropped out after 2 days. He enrolled again on May 01, which he passed with a 93 percent score on May 12.

Aircraft information

The airplane was a Cessna 152, serial number 15281078, which was manufactured in 1977. According to the original application for a utility category airworthiness certificate completed by the Cessna factory, a Lycoming O-235-L2C engine was installed at the time of manufacture.

The most recent annual inspection of both the airframe and engine was recorded as completed on February 20, 2006, 76 hours prior to the accident. According to the airplane's