FlightFinder
Check my flight
No fatalities

Piper PA-28 Archer II Crash During Engine Failure Training in Luxembourg (LX-AVA)

LU

On May 19, 2014, an aircraft (registration LX-AVA) operated by Lieu was involved in an aviation accident near LU. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Insufficient speed monitoring during the engine failure exercise and an excessive pitch-up attitude during the go-around likely caused the aircraft to enter the critical second regime of flight, leading to a collision with the ground due to insufficient… This summary draws on records from the Administration des enquetes techniques, Luxembourg (AET).

Sourcesthe Administration des enquetes techniques, Luxembourg (AET)Primary reportUpdated 2026-10-18Data APIEditorial standards

A Piper PA-28 Archer II (LX-AVA) crashed on May 19, 2014, near Volmerange-les-Mines during a training flight. The aircraft entered the critical second regime after an inadvertent flap retraction and excessive pitch-up during a go-around.

Incident Overview

On May 19, 2014, at approximately 12:00 local time, a Piper PA-28 Archer II with registration LX-AVA collided with the ground near Volmerange-les-Mines. The aircraft was operated by a flying club and was conducting an instructional flight with dual controls. An instructor and two students were on board. The impact resulted in the fracture of the nose gear and the right main landing gear.

Flight Sequence

The student pilot departed from Findel Airport in Luxembourg to practice forced landing simulations. After roughly fifteen minutes, the instructor reduced power to initiate an engine failure exercise. The student selected a field for a simulated landing but deemed the altitude too high and extended the flaps fully. At 200 feet, the instructor declared the exercise successful and instructed the student to abort the approach.

The student applied full power and pushed the carburetor heat control forward. During this maneuver, the flap lever slipped from the student's hand, causing the flaps to retract fully instead of moving one notch as intended. The instructor took control of the aircraft and extended the flaps again but was unable to stabilize the pitch attitude. The speed did not increase while altitude continued to decrease. The instructor pulled up just before impact, resulting in a ground collision.

Investigation Findings

The student pilot, aged 46, held a Luxembourg student pilot license and had 55 total flight hours, all on the PA-28. The instructor, aged 61, held a private pilot license and instructor qualification with 1,169 total hours.

Post-accident analysis indicated that the aircraft likely entered the critical second regime of flight. This condition occurs when the power required to maintain level flight exceeds the power available from the engine at low speeds. The investigation concluded that insufficient monitoring of airspeed during the engine failure exercise, combined with an excessive pitch-up attitude during the go-around, prevented the aircraft from accelerating. With limited altitude remaining, the instructor could not recover from this aerodynamic state before striking the ground.

Probable cause

Insufficient speed monitoring during the engine failure exercise and an excessive pitch-up attitude during the go-around likely caused the aircraft to enter the critical second regime of flight, leading to a collision with the ground due to insufficient altitude for recovery.
Loss of control in flight

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 19 May 2014 aircraft accident near LU?

A Piper PA-28 Archer II (LX-AVA) crashed on May 19, 2014, near Volmerange-les-Mines during a training flight. The aircraft entered the critical second regime after an inadvertent flap retraction and excessive pitch-up during a go-around.

Were there any fatalities in the 19 May 2014 aircraft accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 19 May 2014 involved an aircraft, registration LX-AVA, operated by Lieu, at LU.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Insufficient speed monitoring during the engine failure exercise and an excessive pitch-up attitude during the go-around likely caused the aircraft to enter the critical second regime of flight, leading to a collision with the ground due to insufficient altitude for recovery.

More accident analyses