Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-44-180 near Seattle, WA — 2011-12-01

Final reportWPR12LA051
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Date
2011-12-01
Location
Seattle, WA, USA
Airport
BFI
Aircraft
PIPER PA-44-180
Registration
N2163N
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that, shortly after the student pilot conducted the takeoff, she noticed an uncommanded yaw, and she then took control of the airplane. The flight instructor started to land straight ahead, lowered the nose, and reduced power, but then she decided that insufficient runway remained to land, so she initiated a go-around. The airplane rolled sharply right and then descended in an uncontrolled inverted attitude, impacted the ground, and struck a parked airplane. The airplane fuselage and wings were substantially damaged from impact and partially consumed by the postcrash fire. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Instructor could have executed a controlled landing instead of a go-around.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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