# NTSB WPR09CA283: Smith Albert F Challenger TWO, N7095K, Moses Lake, WA, June 10, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 10, 2009, 16:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Moses Lake, WA - Coordinates: 47.141944, -119.237777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1419&lon=-119.2378&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74020 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA283 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74020/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74020 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA283 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain lateral roll control of the airplane. Also causal was the flight instructor's failure to effectively communicate his instruction to relinquish the flight controls to the student pilot and his inadequate supervision of the flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Physical workspace: noise](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041040): Environmental issues › Task environment · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Smith Albert F CHALLENGER TWO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041040/cases.md?model=05624BL), [All aircraft, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041040/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel): lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Albert F CHALLENGER TWO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md?model=05624BL), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Smith Albert F CHALLENGER TWO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05624BL), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Albert F CHALLENGER TWO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05624BL), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Albert F CHALLENGER TWO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05624BL), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Albert F CHALLENGER TWO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=05624BL), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Albert F CHALLENGER TWO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=05624BL), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Smith Albert F CHALLENGER TWO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05624BL), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Smith Albert F CHALLENGER TWO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05624BL), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor said that after completing a series of maneuvers in the local practice area, he had the student pilot enter the traffic pattern for runway 16. The student pilot was to execute a low approach above the runway and then go around. During the low approach as the airplane passed midfield, the right wing of the airplane began to lift up, and the airplane veered to the left of the runway. The student added full power. The flight instructor announced to the student pilot that he was taking control of the airplane. Despite the flight instructor’s attempts to level the wings and gain air speed to begin a climb, the left wing of the airplane impacted a stationary unoccupied airplane. The flight instructor added that in subsequent discussions with the student pilot, the student pilot informed him that he did not hear the flight instructor announce that he was taking control and never relinquished control of the airplane. The flight instructor stated that "at full power," the engine noise was "high enough to make communication impossible." Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left and right wings were structurally damaged. The inspector reported that flight control continuity was established throughout the airplane to all primary flight controls. The reported wind at the time of the accident was 250 degrees for 8 knots, which equates to a right crosswind component of 8 knots. ## Factual narrative According to the flight instructor, after completing a series of maneuvers in the local practice area, he had the student pilot enter the traffic pattern for runway 16. The student pilot was to execute a low approach above the runway and then go around. During the low approach as the airplane passed midfield, the right wing of the airplane began to lift up, and the airplane veered to the left of the runway. The student added full power. The flight instructor stated that he announced to the student pilot that he was taking control of the airplane. Despite the flight instructor’s attempts to level the wings and gain air speed to begin a climb, the left wing of the airplane impacted a stationary unoccupied airplane. The flight instructor added that in subsequent discussions with the student pilot, the student pilot informed him that he did not hear the flight instructor announce that he was taking control and never relinquished control of the airplane. The flight instructor stated that "at full power," the engine noise was "high enough to make communication impossible." Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left and right wings were structurally damaged. The inspector reported that flight control continuity was established throughout the airplane to all primary flight controls. The reported wind at the time of the accident was 250 degrees for 8 knots, which equates to a right crosswind component of 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7095K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7095K-2014-11-26), registration cancelled 2014-11-26, S/N CH2 0193-0942, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SMITH ALBERT F CHALLENGER TWO - Registry model: [Smith Albert F CHALLENGER TWO](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-albert-f-challenger-two) (registry code 05624BL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CH2 0193-0942 - Airframe hours: 174 - Engines: Hirth 2703 55 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Angel Wings Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Angel Wings Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 8, 2009, 0 hours before - Departed: W20, Moses Lake, WA - Destination: W20, Moses Lake, WA - Airport: W20, Moses Lake Municipal, runway 16, 2,513 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 60; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 10, 2008; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,826 total, 171 in this make and model, 1,801 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; student; seat: front; flight hours: 25 total, 18 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KMWH, 5 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 20090610007739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090610007739A), Jun 10, 2009: Amtr CHALLENGER2, Moses Lake, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Flight intstructor was giving student pilot instruction to student pilot at Moses Lake Municipal Airport, WA (W20) and the student lost control of the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74020. 699 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 646 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315453&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315454&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.