Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA 28-161 near Bristow, VA — 2015-08-16

Final reportERA15LA315
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Date
2015-08-16
Location
Bristow, VA, USA
Airport
HEF
Aircraft
PIPER PA 28-161
Registration
N82587
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during approach, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the student’s distraction due to other traffic in the airport traffic pattern.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot was conducting a solo flight and stated that, while on approach for landing, she had just reduced engine power when the tower controller asked her to extend the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern due to other traffic. She subsequently became distracted looking for the other traffic and did not increase engine power to maintain altitude. The controller then instructed her to turn onto the base leg and she complied; however, the airplane continued to descend and collided with trees before coming to rest upright on the ground. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the student pilot report any.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have increased engine power to maintain altitude after reducing it.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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