Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA28 near Manassas, VA — 2022-03-02

Final reportERA22LA143
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Date
2022-03-02
Location
Manassas, VA, USA
Airport
HEF
Aircraft
PIPER PA28
Registration
N5627W
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper left rudder input after power application during the touch-and-go landing which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with airport lighting equipment. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that, during the takeoff portion of a touch-an-go landing, the student applied an “extreme amount” of left rudder and the airplane began to veer left and impacted a light with the wingtip, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The instructor stated that he was not guarding the rudder pedals and attempted to assume control of the airplane, but the event happened very quickly and there was not enough time to correct and center the airplane over the runway. The instructor stated that during debriefing later, the student indicated that he lost control of the rudder. Post-accident inspection of the rudder flight control system by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents7

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