HINCKLEY, IL, USA
N2508D
PIPER PA-38
A STUDENT PILOT AND INSTRUCTOR PILOT WERE FLYING A MODEL NEW TO THEM. THE STUDENT HAD NEVER FLOWN WITH THIS INSTRUCTOR BEFORE. SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVING IN THE TRAINING AREA, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE SPIN TO THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AT TAKEOFF AND AT ACCIDENT. NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND. ELEVATOR TRIM WAS FULL NOSE UP. BOTH PILOTS HAD FLOWN A MAJORITY OF THEIR FLIGHT TIME IN ANOTHER MAKE AND MODEL FOR WHICH THE SPIN RECOVERY PROCEDURE AND THE USEFUL LOAD ABOVE FULL FUEL ARE DIFFERENT.
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INABILITY TO RECOVER FROM A STALL/SPIN. FACTORS WERE: ACFT WT & BALANCE EXCEEDED, AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S AND STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH ACFT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports