Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CHI89LA067

ALLEGAN, MI, USA

Aircraft #1

N9504T

PIPER PA-38-112

Analysis

THE CFI REPORTED THAT THE DUAL STUDENT PILOT INITIATED THE TAKEOFF ROLL WITH AILERON INTO THE WIND (LEFT AILERON), BUT THAT HE RELAXED AILERON PRESSURE PREMATURELY. WHEN INSTRUCTED TO INCREASE LEFT AILERON, THE STUDENT REACTED BY APPLYING LEFT RUDDER & LEFT BRAKE. AT THAT TIME, THE ACFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE TRAVELING ABOUT 45 TO 50 MPH. THE ACFT SWERVED TO THE LEFT & THE CFI WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY, ENCOUNTERED 'SOFT GRASS' & WAS DAMAGED. THE STUDENT HAD ONLY 4 HRS OF FLT TIME. THE CFI HAD OBTAINED HIS CFI RATING ON 12/20/88 & HAD ACCUMULATED 82 HRS OF INSTRUCTION SINCE THAT TIME.

Probable Cause and Findings

IMPROPER USE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE STUDENT PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE; AND THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S (CFI'S) INADEQUATE SUPERVISION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND CONDITION, THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, THE CFI'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION, AND SOFT TERRAIN.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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