Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary DEN05CA062

Farmington, NM, USA

Aircraft #1

N435P

Beech A36

Analysis

The flight instructor stated that his student was performing a short-field takeoff on runway 25. He stated that once the airplane became airborne, he "noted that the pitch was a bit high." He stated that the pitch continued to increase and the airplane rolled to the right and then to the left. The instructor stated that he took control of the airplane and decreased the angle of attack and rolled the wings level. The airplane continued to descend and impacted the left side of the runway, bouncing several times, causing substantial damage. According to the METAR (aviation routine weather report) taken at 1353, the winds were reported as 220 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots.

Factual Information

On March 15, 2005, at 1333 mountain standard time, a Beech A36, N435P, operated by Mesa Pilot Development and under the command of a commercial certificated flight instructor, sustained substantial damage when the right wing impacted the runway during takeoff at Four Corners Regional Airport (FMN), Farmington, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight instructor and student pilot reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the accident report submitted by the flight instructor, his student was performing a short-field takeoff on runway 25. The instructor stated that once the airplane became airborne, he "noted that the pitch was a bit high." He stated that the pitch continued to increase and the airplane rolled to the right and then to the left. The instructor stated that he took control of the airplane and decreased the angle of attack and rolled the wings level. The airplane continued to descend and impacted the left side of the runway, bouncing several times. The right wing tip was crushed, the ribs buckled, and the right aileron was wrinkled. According to the FMN METAR (aviation routine weather report) taken at 1353, the weather was reported as winds 220 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots.

Probable Cause and Findings

the student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in a stall and loss of control. Contributing factors were wind gusts, instructor's delay in taking remedial action, and the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

Get all the details on your iPhone or iPad with:

Aviation Accidents App

In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports