LAX94LA315

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28R-201T · Overgaard, AZ · August 11, 1994

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 11, 1994, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC)
Place
Overgaard, AZ
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N9044APiper PA-28R-201T
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 18, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940811021219A
Case key
28823

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 failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Factors in the accident were weather conditions, high density altitude, and shifting wind conditions.

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 flightApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Airspeed - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The pilot reported diverting around rain showers along the route of flight to the airport. On final approach, about 10 feet above the ground, a gust of wind blew the airplane left of the runway centerline. The pilot applied full power in order to go-around. The airplane's turbocharged engine was in the process of accelerating and did not respond immediately with full power, so the pilot entered a right turn to avoid striking an obstruction. The airplane stalled and struck the ground on the right wing. The elevation of the airport is 6,657 feet above mean sea level. The closest official weather observation station, about 23 miles away, was also reporting rain showers in the area. The density altitude was calculated at 9,200 feet.

Factual narrative

On August 11, 1994, at 1500 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, N9044A, collided with terrain after an in-flight loss of control on final approach to runway 20 at the Mogollon Airpark, Overgaard, Arizona. The airplane was being operated by Jandr Associates, Inc., Pahrump, Nevada, as a business flight under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated in Chino, California, at 1155 hours. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

The pilot diverted around rain showers along the route of flight from Chino to the Mogollon Airpark. After entering the Mogollon Airpark traffic pattern, the pilot observed the airport's windsock. According to the pilot, the windsock favored runway 20 with light winds.

On final approach, about 10 feet above the ground, a gust of wind blew the airplane left of the runway centerline. The pilot applied full power in order to go-around. The airplane's powerplant did not respond immediately and the pilot entered a right turn to avoid striking an obstruction. The airplane stalled and struck the ground on the right wing.

The elevation of the Mogollon Airpark is 6,657 feet above mean sea level (msl). The closest official weather observation station is the Show Low Airport, Show Low, Arizona, which is located about 23 nautical miles east of the accident site. The elevation of the weather observation station is 6,412 feet above msl. At 1442 hours, a record surface observation was reporting a temperature of 74 degrees Fahrenheit, with winds from 160 degrees at 10 knots. Remarks in the observation indicated thunderstorms to the southeast moving south with occasional light rain showers, and moderate rain showers observed in all quadrants.

Aircraft

Registration
N9044A
Reported as
Piper PA-28R-201T (PA-28R-201)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28R-7803253
Airframe hours
1,437
Engine
Continental TSIO-360F, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Registered owner
Jandr Associates, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 10, 1994 · 31 hours before
Departed
CNO · Chino, CA
Airport
AZ82 · Mogollon Airpark, runway 20, 5,000 × 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
51
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
238 total · 158 in this make and model · 151 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 10 knots
Visibility
30 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
8,000 ft broken
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 54 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
SOW, 23 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.