Casualties unknown

2005-11-09: Piper PA-28-161 (N4171T) — Av-ed Flight School Inc. — Leesburg, VA

Leesburg, VA, US

On November 9, 2005, a Piper PA-28-161 (registration N4171T) operated by Av-ed Flight School Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Leesburg, VA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The flight instructor's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with trees and terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 9 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A flight instructor and student pilot performing touch-and-go landings experienced a loss of control after a prolonged takeoff roll, resulting in a steep left bank and descent into trees and terrain. Toxicology revealed the presence of marihuana in the instructor and sedating antihistamine and antidepressant in the student.

Incident Overview

A flight instructor and a student pilot were conducting touch-and-go landings in the airport traffic pattern. After completing one circuit around the pattern, they transitioned from landing to a second takeoff. During this transition, the airplane rolled nearly the entire length of the runway before becoming airborne.

Loss of Control and Impact

Shortly after liftoff, the airplane banked steeply to the left at a low altitude. It then descended in a nose-down attitude and subsequently impacted trees and terrain. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any pre-impact failures or malfunctions.

Toxicology Results

Toxicological testing of the flight instructor revealed the presence of marihuana. The extent to which this drug may have affected the instructor could not be determined. Testing of the student pilot revealed the presence of a sedating over-the-counter antihistamine and a prescription antidepressant.

Conclusion

The sequence of events involved a prolonged takeoff roll followed by a steep left bank and descent into terrain. No mechanical issues were identified in the wreckage. The effects of the substances found in both pilots on the accident could not be established from the available information.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20051124X01886. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.