MIA07LA053

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-181 · Venice, FL · February 25, 2007

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 25, 2007, 09:55 local (14:55 UTC)
Place
Venice, FL
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N2213ZPiper PA-28-181
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 20, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA Flight Standards District Office
FAA report
20070225010299A
Case key
65413

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 failure of the student pilot to maintain airspeed during a go-around.

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 flightGo-around (vfr)
Airspeed - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The student pilot performed four landings with his certified flight instructor (CFI), then departed on a solo flight remaining in the traffic pattern. He performed two go-arounds, departed the traffic pattern, then returned for a full-stop landing on runway 13. The wind velocity had increased but he continued his approach. The airplane drifted left of centerline, and he added full power to perform a go-around. The airplane stalled when the flight was at 50 feet, descended left wing low, and impacted the ground. The student pilot further reported there was no mechanical failure or malfunction.

Factual narrative

On February 25, 2007, about 0955 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N2213Z, registered to and operated by a private individual, collided with the ground during a go-around at the Venice Municipal Airport, Venice, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight from Venice Municipal Airport. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight originated about 0940, from Venice Municipal Airport.

The student pilot stated that he performed 4 landings with his certified flight instructor (CFI) on-board, then made 2 solo full-stop taxi-back landings. After takeoff the flight remained in the traffic pattern for a final full-stop landing but the wind was "very strong", and performed a go-around. He remained in the traffic pattern, and performed another go-around, then departed the traffic pattern. He flew 4-5 miles away from the airport, returned and entered the downwind leg, then turned onto base and final for runway 13. The wind seemed to "pick up" and the airplane was blown to the left of the runway centerline, and he performed a go-around by applying full power. The engine responded but when the flight was at 50 feet, the "wind seemed to take over." The airplane began losing altitude and impacted the ground in a left wing low attitude. He further reported the "engine was fine" and there were no problems with the flight controls.

A METAR taken at the airport at 0941, which was approximately 1 minute after the accident flight departed, or approximately 14 minutes before the accident, indicates the wind was from 160 degrees at 9 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N2213Z
Reported as
Piper PA-28-181
Category
Airplane
Serial number
287990405
Airframe hours
3,134.82
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Charles E. McCormick
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 1, 2006 · 142.22 hours before
Departed
KVNC · Venice, FL
Destination
KVNC · Venice, FL
Airport
KVNC · Venice Municipal, runway 13, 4,999 × 150 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
Student pilot
Age
38
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
28 total · 28 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
30.05 inHg
Observed at
KVNC

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.