Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Flying Otter Aviation LLC
Location: Winder, Georgia
Accident Number: ERA19CA289
Date & Time: March 28, 2019, 09:00 Local
Registration: N6412W
Aircraft: Piper PA28
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Collision during takeoff/land
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
Analysis
During an instructional flight, the student pilot and flight instructor planned to stay in the traffic pattern to practice touch-and-go landings. During the third approach and just before the landing flare, the airplane began to drift to the right side of the runway. The instructor noticed that the student was cross controlling with the airplane's nose pointed right. He took over the controls and initiated a go-around, but the student did not immediately remove his feet from the rudder pedals, which made the instructor's control inputs "less effective." While still airborne, the airplane struck a runway sign. The instructor continued the go-around and landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The instructor reported that the flight controls were "free and correct" and that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The student pilot's loss of airplane control, the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, and the student's delay in relinquishing the flight controls, which resulted in the airplane striking a runway sign during a go-around.
Findings
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Student/instructed pilot
Personnel issues Delayed action - Instructor/check pilot
Personnel issues Delayed action - Student/instructed pilot
Environmental issues Sign/marker - Effect on operation
Factual Information
History of Flight
Approach Loss of control in flight
Approach Attempted remediation/recovery
Approach-VFR go-around Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Approach-VFR go-around Collision during takeoff/land (Defining event)
Flight instructor Information
Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor
Age: 35, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Unknown
Last FAA Medical Exam: October 9, 2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 426 hours (Total, all aircraft), 66 hours (Total, this make and model), 64 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)
Student pilot Information
Certificate:
Age: 21, Male
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N6412W
Model/Series: PA28 140
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1964
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal; Utility
Serial Number: 28-20481
Landing Gear Type:
Tricycle Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: March 13, 2019 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3999 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT:
Installed Engine Model/Series: O-320 SERIES
Registered Owner:
Rated Power:
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: WDR, 943 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 09:35 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 289°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 7000 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 8500 ft AGL
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 270°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 12°C / 0°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Winder, GA (WDR)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Winder, GA (WDR)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: BARROW COUNTY WDR
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 934 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
Runway Used: 31
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5202 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Go around
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A Aircraft
Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 33.982776,-83.667221(est)
