Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
https://registry.faa.gov/N6400A
Location: Taylor, TX
Accident Number: CEN19CA336
Date & Time: 09/02/2019, 1030 CDT
Registration: N6400A
Aircraft: Piper PA38
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of lift
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional
The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting a training flight that included touch and go landings. During landing rollout, with about 2,000 ft of runway remaining, the flight instructor directed the student to transition to a soft field takeoff.
The student made the takeoff and attempted to climb out of with a high pitch attitude, during which the airplane settled back to the ground off the end of the runway. The airplane subsequently impacted a ditch, which damaged the fuselage.
Following the accident, the flight instructor recognized the pitch attitude during the student's climb out was too high and that he should not have directed the student to attempt a soft field takeoff, based on the runway distance remaining. The accident report form indicated that there were mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Flight Instructor Information
Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 23, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/24/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/14/2019
Flight Time: 628 hours (Total, all aircraft), 292 hours (Total, this make and model), 532 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 140 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 72 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 5 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Student Pilot Information
Certificate: Student
Age: 19, Female
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 07/03/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 114 hours (Total, all aircraft), 100 hours (Total, this make and model), 5 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 42 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 15 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N6400A
Model/Series: PA38 112
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1978
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 38-78A0415
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 08/27/2019, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 6223 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-235-L2C
Registered Owner: Pilots Choice Aviation Equipment Leasing
Rated Power: 110 hp
Operator: Pilots Choice Aviation Equipment Leasing
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Pilot School (141)
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KEDC, 617 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 12 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1035 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 211°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 40°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.08 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 32°C / 19°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Georgetown, TX (GTU)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Taylor, TX (T74)
Type of Clearance: Traffic Advisory; VFR
Departure Time: 0915 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: Taylor Muni (T74)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 600 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 35
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4000 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Touch and Go
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 30.572778, -97.443056 (est)
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At 114 hours she should have been well beyond needing any flight instructor input backup on a typical soft field takeoff. Some people are just not made out to be pilots. Never mind the Tomahawk is arguably the easiest trainer to learn in.
ReplyDeleteThere are four taxiways on that 4000ft runway. How much time is saved by transitioning to a soft field takeoff while on the rollout, versus simply taxiing back and performing a pre-departure briefing? I wonder what "mechanical malfunctions or failures" the plane had?
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