# NTSB WPR21LA179: Piper PA-30B, N125RJ, Corvallis, OR, April 29, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 29, 2021, 16:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Corvallis, OR · airport - Coordinates: 44.49172, -123.2933 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4917&lon=-123.2933&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 102999 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102999/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102999 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA179 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a simulated engine out landing which resulted in impact with terrain. ## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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: [Piper PA-30, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and pilot rated passenger were performing a simulated single-engine landing with a left crosswind. According to the passenger, the pilot and he briefed the simulated single-engine procedure prior to the flight and determined that the simulated loss of engine power would be induced by pulling one of the engine mixtures to idle cutoff. He further remarked that they decided that the person at the controls would be responsible for maintaining directional control and any adjustments to the mixture, propeller, and throttle control settings. During the initial approach to land, the passenger pulled the left mixture control to idle to simulate a critical engine failure. The pilot stated that he did not adjust the throttle, propeller, or mixture control settings, and continued the approach to land. While on short final, the airspeed became too slow and the airplane started to balloon, and drift left of runway centerline. The pilot then advanced both engines to full throttle for a go-around, but the airplane yawed and banked to the left and the left wing struck the runway. The airplane then impacted the ground and slid to a stop off the left side of the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N125RJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N125RJ-2023-01-14), registration cancelled 2023-01-14, S/N 30-1351, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30B - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-1351 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 2673.5 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320-B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aurora Flight Training - Registered owner: American Aircraft Brokers LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 2021 - Departed: KUAO, Aurora, OR - Destination: KCVO, Corvalis, OR - Airport: CVO, Corvallis Muni, runway 17/35, 5,900 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,347 total, 8 in this make and model, 1,383 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 2, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 1,697.9 total, 19.8 in this make and model, 1,578.4 as pilot in command, 213 in the last 90 days, 84 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KCVO, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KCVO 292356Z AUTO 31013KT 10SM CLR 21/04 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP232 T02110039 10250 20178 53002= ## 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 20210429013209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210429013209A), Apr 29, 2021: Piper PA-30, Corvallis, OR, Substantial damage. Pilot was practicing a single engine approach to landing with left engine at idle, upon entering the flare the airplane started to yaw left . Pilot elected to… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 21, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102999. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (pilot) (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12602593&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PIC%206120%20179_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (co-pilot) (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12726715&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Co-Pilot%206120%20179_Redacted-Rel-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12604561&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MEMORANDUM%20FOR%20RECORD%20-%20PILOT%20179-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� co-pilot (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12604571&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Records%20-%20Copilot-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� chief pilot of flying club (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12604381&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MEMORANDUM%20FOR%20RECORD%20179-Rel.pdf - POH excerpt for single engine go around and simulated single engine operation (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12603747&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Piper%20PA-30%20POH%20Excerpt%20Simulated%20Single%20Engine%20Operation-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 647 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12603344&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20179-Rel.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.