Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28R-200 near Las Vegas, NV — 2021-05-15

Final reportWPR21LA222
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Date
2021-05-15
Location
Las Vegas, NV, USA
Airport
HND
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28R-200
Registration
N1996T
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to compensate for a downdraft during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that, they configured the airplane for takeoff and noted there was a substantial crosswind. During takeoff, as the airplane reached about 50 ft above ground level (agl), the airplane encountered a downdraft, and the flight instructor was unable to maintain altitude. The airplane descended and collided in the ditch located between the parallel runways. The airplane wing tips contacted the ground and the airplane spun around coming to rest in the opposite direction of travel. The right wing was substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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