N6400A

Substantial
None

Piper PA38S/N: 38-78A0415

Accident Details

Date
Monday, September 2, 2019
NTSB Number
CEN19CA336
Location
Taylor, TX
Event ID
20190902X32852
Coordinates
30.572778, -97.443054
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student's soft-field takeoff, which resulted in an excessive pitch attitude, settling effect, and impact with a ditch off the end of the runway.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N6400A
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
38-78A0415
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1978
Model / ICAO
PA38PA38
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
PILOTS CHOICE AVIATION EQUIPMENT LEASING CO
Address
209 CORSAIR DR
Status
Deregistered
City
GEORGETOWN
State / Zip Code
TX 78628-2308
Country
United States

Analysis

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.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN19CA336