# NTSB WPR11CA298: Piper PA-28-161, N434K, Goodyear, AZ, June 16, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 16, 2011, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Goodyear, AZ - Coordinates: 33.7, -112.616668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7000&lon=-112.6167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 80932 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA298 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80932/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80932 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA298 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's delayed remedial action and failure to maintain lateral control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/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: [Piper PA-28-161, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certified flight instructor and his student were performing a soft field take off. He reported that while in ground effect after lift off the student was not applying sufficient right rudder to offset wind drift and the left turning tendency of the airplane due to P-factor and torque. As the airplane drifted to the left side of the runway, the flight instructor took over the flight controls. The flight instructor commented that he dropped the nose of the airplane to attain flying speed and inadvertently touched down on the left side of the runway. He then proceeded to takeoff and fly the lesson with the student. After returning to the airport at completion of the flight lesson, a visual inspection found that the right wing tip and aileron sustained substantial damage. According to an eyewitness, the right wing of the airplane appeared to have struck the ground when the airplane touched down. The pilots reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The certified flight instructor and his student were performing a soft field take off. He reported that while in ground effect after liftoff the student was not applying sufficient right rudder to offset wind drift and the left turning tendency of the airplane due to P-factor and torque. As the airplane drifted to the left side of the runway, the flight instructor physically took over the flight controls. The flight instructor commented that he dropped the nose of the airplane to attain flying speed and inadvertently touched down on the left side of the runway. He then proceeded to takeoff and fly the lesson with the student. After returning to the airport at completion of the flight lesson, a visual inspection found that the right wing tip and aileron sustained substantial damage. According to an eyewitness, the right wing of the airplane appeared to have struck the ground when the airplane touched down. The pilots reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N434K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N434K-2017-10-24), registration cancelled 2017-10-24, S/N 288116028, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-D3G](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-d3g) (registry code 42156, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 288116028 - Airframe hours: 12278 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D4G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Oxford Airline Training Center Inc - Registered owner: Oxford Airline Training Center Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, June 10, 2011, 21 hours before - Departed: KGYR, Goodyear, AZ - Destination: KGYR, Goodyear, AZ - Airport: KGYR, Goodyear Airport, runway 21, 8,500 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 32; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 28, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 3,820 total, 3,170 in this make and model, 3,720 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 45 total, 45 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: KGYR ## 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 20110616012409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110616012409A), Jun 16, 2011: Piper PA-28-161, Goodyear, AZ, Substantial damage. At approximately 1102 PST on June 16, 2011, N434K, operated by [privacy data omitted], flight instructor certificate number [privacy data omitted], suffered a… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80932. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 580 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350921&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Aircraft Mechanic (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350917&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Aircraft%20Mechanic-Master.PDF - Internal Accident Report - Oxford Aviation (item 3, .PDF, 735 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351109&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Internal%20Accident%20Report%20-%20Oxford%20Aviation-Redacted.PDF - Photo of Damage to Right Wing & Aileron - Courtesy of FAA (item 4, .PDF, 533 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351126&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Damage%20to%20Right%20Wing%20%26%20Aileron%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-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.