Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28-181 near Phoenix, AZ — 2011-02-26

Final reportWPR11FA145
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Date
2011-02-26
Location
Phoenix, AZ, USA
Airport
DVT
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28-181
Registration
N910PA
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
3
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The pilot and flight instructor's failure to adequately monitor the flight task and environment while maneuvering to maintain sufficient altitude with rising terrain in dark night conditions and the flight instructor's improper decision to practice in an area known to have no illumination, which led to collision with a rock outcropping.

NTSB narrative

The airplane struck a rock outcropping near the peak of a 4,600-foot mountain during a night training flight that included very-high frequency omnidirectional radio range and GPS tracking and intercepting maneuvers in visual meteorological conditions. The airplane had a flight instructor and two pilot-rated students onboard. It could not be determined who was flying the airplane at the time of the accident. According to the operator, the flight instructor had been counseled not to fly in that particular area at night because it was dark with no ambient surface light to illuminate the area. The flight school had other approved areas designated for night training flights. It is likely that the pilots were practicing a tracking or intercepting maneuver while not adequately monitoring the environment, which lacked illumination, to maintain sufficient altitude as they approached mountainous terrain. The damage to the airplane and associated ground scars were consistent with the airplane flying in a straight-and-level attitude before impacting the rock outcropping. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
CFI should not have conducted night flight in that area due to darkness.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • FDR / data
  • Photos
  • 21 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents21

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