Pilot Debrief

GREAT LAKES 2T1A near San Diego, CA — 2020-09-24

Final reportWPR20LA320
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Date
2020-09-24
Location
San Diego, CA, USA
Airport
MYF
Aircraft
GREAT LAKES 2T1A
Registration
N3617L
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in a hard landing off airport.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that, during the first takeoff of the day, with the pilot receiving instruction on the flight controls, the engine lost power shortly after takeoff about 350 ft above the runway. The flight instructor took control and established a 75-mph glide and initiated a steep angle-of-bank turn attempting to return to the runway. The flight instructor checked that the throttle, mixture control, and propeller were full forward, and the fuel shutoff was in the ON position. During the descent, the airplane struck a tree then impacted a parking lot adjacent to the airport perimeter. A witness at the airport reported that he heard the engine sputtering and observed it level off about 300 ft above ground level while making a right turn. The engine lost power, the airplane slowed dramatically, and the nose of the airplane started going down. The airplane recovered enough airspeed to bring the nose up just before the collision with a tree north of the runway. The airplane came to rest upright with significant damage to the engine compartment, and substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Instructor could have aborted takeoff upon noticing lack of climb.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents7

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