# NTSB WPR23LA242: Piper PA-28-140, N730SC, Newdale, ID, June 27, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 26, 2023, 18:45 local (Jun 27, 2023, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Newdale, ID · farm field - Coordinates: 43.876, -111.579 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8760&lon=-111.5790&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - 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 - Parties: Federal Aviation Administraton - NTSB case key (mKey): 192463 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA242 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192463/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192463 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA242 ## Probable cause The premature retraction of the flaps by the student pilot, while just above the airplane’s stall speed. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision and failure to regain aircraft control from the student pilot. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action sequence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/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-28-140, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7102802), [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. - [Emergency descent: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that while his student was at the controls, he initiated a simulated engine failure, and the student executed the emergency procedures for a forced landing. The student chose a place to land and configured the airplane for landing, including full flaps. The instructor noticed that the airplane’s airspeed was “a little slow”, and he instructed the student to check the airspeed, then recover from the simulation. The student retracted the flaps instead of adding engine power, and the airplane stalled and sank. The instructor immediately attempted to take over the airplane’s controls from the student and verbally commanded “my controls”, but the student was “stuck on the controls and locked up.” The airplane continued to descend and touched down in a field and nosed over. Both wings, the fuselage, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder sustained substantial damage. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N730SC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N730SC-2025-02-15), registration cancelled 2025-02-15, S/N 28-7225546, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7225546 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 4281.13 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 8, 2023 - Departed: KRXE, Rexburg, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 29, 2021; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 602 total, 318 in this make and model, 544 as pilot in command, 119 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 33 total, 33 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KRXE, 10 nm away - METAR: KRXE 262353Z AUTO 24010KT 10SM CLR 26/04 A2990 ## 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 20230626007139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230626007139A), Jun 26, 2023: Piper PA-28-140, Newdale, ID, Substantial damage. Student was practicing steep turns and stalls in preparation for solo flight. At 8200MSL, CFI pulled back throttle to idle and informed student that he had… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192463. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15874119&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA242_6120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 730 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15874129&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA242_photos_508-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.