No fatalities

4 Feb 2020: PIPER PA-28-181 — CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Phoenix — Mesa, AZ

Mesa, AZ, United States

On 4 Feb 2020, a PIPER PA-28-181 operated by CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Phoenix was involved in an aviation accident near Mesa, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the flight instructor's inadequate remediation during a short-field takeoff, which resulted in impact with a parked airplane. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During a soft-field takeoff training flight, a student pilot lost directional control, causing the airplane to veer left, become briefly airborne, then roll left and impact a taxiway and a parked airplane. Substantial damage occurred to the right wing and left aileron.

Accident Details

A flight instructor and a student pilot were performing a soft-field takeoff procedure. The instructor briefed the student while holding short of the active runway. After receiving takeoff clearance, the student aligned the airplane with the runway centerline, advanced the throttle to full power, and released aft pressure from the yoke.

Sequence of Events

During the ground roll, the instructor briefly lost sight of the runway. When the runway reappeared, she observed the airplane rapidly veering to the left. The instructor applied full right rudder and right aileron control in an attempt to regain directional control, but the airplane continued turning left. Unable to stop the turn, the instructor reduced engine power, then quickly restored it with the intention of flying the airplane back to the runway, as the airplane had just become airborne. However, the airplane rolled to the left, the stall horn activated, and the airplane touched down on a taxiway, subsequently impacting a parked airplane.

Damage

The right wing and left aileron sustained substantial damage.

No Mechanical Anomalies

The instructor and student reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that could have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

Student/instructed pilotInstructor/check pilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintainedEffect on operation