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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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June 18, 2000 · Piper PA-38 · N407DS

Cheswold, DE

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 18, 2000
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Cheswold, DE
Aircraft
Piper PA-38
Tail Number
N407DS
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC00LA167

The airplane was on the final approach segment of a visual pattern, with the student pilot at the controls. The student reduced power, the airspeed bled off, and airplane began to sink. The instructor told the student to watch his airspeed, but no corrective action was taken. When the airplane was about 200 feet above the ground, the instructor initiated a go-around. The instructor felt the student push forward on the controls, while the instructor was trying to pull aft and add power. The airplane's left main landing gear became entangled in tall grass and brush. The airplane then yawed left, and impacted the ground. It skidded sideways, and came to rest 20 to 30 feet prior to the runway threshold.

NTSB Probable Cause

The instructor's delayed remedial action. Factors included the instructor's failure to take positive control of the airplane, and the student's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach.

Full Narrative

On June 18, 2000, at 1050 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-38, N407DS, was substantially damaged when it landed short of the runway at Delaware Airpark (33N), Cheswold, Delaware. The certificated flight instructor and the certificated student pilot were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the flight instructor, the airplane was on a stabilized final approach to Runway 27, at 65 knots indicated airspeed, with the student at the controls. The student reduced power, the airspeed went below 60 knots, and airplane began to "sink." The instructor told the student to watch his airspeed, "but no corrective action was taken." At that point, with the airplane about 200 feet above the ground, the instructor initiated a go-around. However, on short final, "the student observed the airspeed slow and pushed over the control wheel drastically...the student was pushing forward while I was pulling aft and adding power." The instructor further stated that the student overcame the instructor's inputs, and that the left main landing gear became entangled in tall grass and brush. The airplane yawed to the left and was pulled downwards. It impacted the ground, skidded sideways, and came to rest 20 to 30 feet prior to the runway threshold. According to the student pilot, the airplane was high on final approach, so he reduced power. When he thought he had the runway made, the student reduced additional power, "which caused the airspeed to decrease too much. The instructor took the controls, but it was too late [and] we were too low...."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:50 EDT
Nearest AirportDelaware Airpark (0nm)
Runway27
Runway Length3715 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-38
Tail NumberN407DS
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235 · Reciprocating · 112
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 31 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 9 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 1500 ft
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time14:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data