26 Aug 2011: PIPER PA-44-180 — Washington Int'l Flight Academy, LLC

26 Aug 2011: PIPER PA-44-180 — Washington Int'l Flight Academy, LLC

No fatalities • Gaithersburg, MD, United States

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to continue taxiing with restricted windshield visibility.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The pilot reported that he was taxiing to the active runway for takeoff, when the windshield started to fog and he missed the left turn to the runway. The airplane exited the taxiway onto a grassy area, and the pilot then turned left; however, the airplane began to slide down a hill. The airplane's right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing impacted the ground, which resulted in damage to the right wing spar. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. He reported 1,400 hours of total flight experience, which included 96 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

Contributing factors

  • cause Directional control — Not attained/maintained
  • factor Decision related to condition
  • Contributed to outcome

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 000/00kt, vis 2sm

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