# NTSB WPR20CA088: Piper PA-28-181, N4400F, Mesa, AZ, February 4, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 4, 2020, 15:02 local (22:02 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.461112, -111.723892 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4611&lon=-111.7239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 27, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 100909 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100909/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100909 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA088 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the flight instructor's inadequate remediation during a short-field takeoff, which resulted in impact with a parked airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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-28-181, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: [Piper PA-28-181, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/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 on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that she briefed the soft-field takeoff procedure with the student pilot while holding short for the active runway. After the flight was cleared for takeoff, the student aligned the airplane with the runway centerline, advanced the throttle to the full-power position, and released aft pressure from the yoke. During the ground roll, the instructor briefly lost sight of the runway, and when the runway reappeared, she saw the airplane rapidly veering left. The instructor applied full right rudder and right aileron, but the airplane continued veering left. Unable to stop the turn, the instructor reduced engine power but quickly restored it with the intent of flying the airplane back to the runway because the airplane had become airborne. However, the airplane then rolled left, the stall horn sounded, and the airplane touched down on the taxiway and impacted a parked airplane. The right wing and left aileron sustained substantial damage. The instructor and student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that could have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that she briefed the soft-field takeoff procedure with her student while holding short for the active runway. After the flight was cleared for takeoff, the student pilot aligned the airplane with the runway center line, advanced the throttle to the full power position, and released aft pressure from the yoke. During the ground roll, the instructor briefly lost sight of the runway and when the runway reappeared, she observed the airplane rapidly veering to the left. The instructor applied full right rudder and right aileron control as they had lost directional control, but the airplane continued to the left. Unable to remediate the turn, the instructor reduced engine power, but quickly restored it with the intent of flying the airplane back to the runway as the airplane had just become airborne. However, the airplane rolled to the left, the stall horn came on and then they touched down on the taxiway and impacted a parked airplane. The right wing and left aileron were substantially damaged. The instructor and student reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that could have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4400F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4400F), registered now, S/N 2881139, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102832) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4M](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4m) (registry code 42276, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2881139 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 1313.4 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Phoenix - Registered owner: CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Phoenix - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 30, 2020, 25 hours before - Departed: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Destination: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Airport: FFZ, Falcon Fld, runway 22L, 5,100 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 21, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 679.4 total, 49.5 in this make and model, 584.4 as pilot in command, 115.9 in the last 90 days, 42.4 in the last 30 days, 8.1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13 total, 13 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg ## 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 20200204004441A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200204004441A), Feb 4, 2020: Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28-181, Mesa, AZ, Destroyed. While executing a soft field takeoff on 22L at kffz the pilot lost control of the aircraft which departed the runway and struck two other aircraft on the ramp.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100909. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481118&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Instructor Statement Excerpt from 6120 (item 2, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481119&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Instructor%20Statement%20Excerpt%20from%206120-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481120&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Accident Photographs (item 4, .PDF, 242 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481121&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-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.