No fatalities

17 Apr 2019: Piper PA28 181 — AeroGuard Flight Training Center — Wickenburg, AZ

Wickenburg, AZ, United States

On 17 Apr 2019, a Piper PA28 181 operated by AeroGuard Flight Training Center was involved in an aviation accident near Wickenburg, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control during landing and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the subsequent aborted landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 16 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot experienced a stall and collision with the ground during a go-around after a ballooned approach. The airplane also struck a taxiway sign. No preimpact mechanical failures were reported.

Accident Description

A student pilot reported that during his second approach to landing, he encountered bumpy air conditions that caused the aircraft to balloon. He corrected by adding power, leveling the wings, and continuing the landing. Just prior to touchdown, the right wing raised, and the airplane began to drift to the left. The pilot applied power to initiate a go-around, at which point the stall warning activated. Despite this, the airplane continued to drift left and subsequently entered an aerodynamic stall, colliding with the ground.

Post-Impact Observations

According to photographs provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, the airplane also struck an airport taxiway sign during the accident sequence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage.

Pilot Report and Weather Conditions

The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the automated weather reporting station at the airport indicated wind from 270° at 6 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 23.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pitch control — Not attained/maintainedStudent/instructed pilotAngle of attack — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome