Piper PA-28-181 Archer III, N309PA: Accident occurred February 27, 2017 at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (KDVT), Arizona

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office: Scottsdale 

Docket And Docket Items - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Aviation Accident Factual Report -  National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Bird Acquisition LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N309PA

NTSB Identification: GAA17CA166
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, February 27, 2017 in Phoenix, AZ
Probable Cause Approval Date: 05/15/2017
Aircraft: PIPER PA28, registration: N309PA
Injuries: 3 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The flight instructor reported that, during an introduction to soft-field takeoffs lesson, upon switching to the tower frequency, he and his student received the updated wind and altimeter setting. He noted that the wind was a “rear quartering crosswind” and that “I have done these before so thought I would be fine, though in retrospect [it’s] been a long time since I have done [a takeoff] with similar conditions.” During the takeoff, he held the yoke back with right aileron, and as the airplane began to lift off, he reduced back pressure on the yoke. After becoming airborne, the airplane drifted to the right and then settled back on the runway. He added more right aileron, rudder, and “back elevator,” which reduced his forward visibility. The airplane became airborne again about 45 knots and drifted to the right of the runway centerline. He reduced power, landed, and came to a stop off the right side of the runway. The airplane was taxied back to parking with no further incident. 

A postaccident examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the rear carry-through wing spar.

The chief flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The flight instructor reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 300° at 10 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 7R.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The flight instructor’s incorrect control inputs while taking off with a known quartering tailwind, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion.