Stall / Spin · NTSB CEN16FA094

COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE TECNA P92 ECHO SUPER — Arcola, TX

1 fatal High-time pilot
DateFebruary 1, 2016
LocationArcola, TX
AircraftCOSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE TECNA P92 ECHO SUPER
Purpose of flightInstructional
ConditionsDay · Visual Meteorological Cond
Phase / occurrenceTakeoff Aerodynamic stall/spin
Pilot age68
Pilot total time6,233 hrs · High time
Time in type6 hrs
Fatalities1, 1 serious

Probable cause

The student pilot's loss of control after exceeding the airplane's critical angle-of-attack, which lead to a power-on, aerodynamic departure stall. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate oversight of the student pilot.

NTSB findings

  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Not attained/maintained - C
  • Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot - F

What happened

The flight instructor and a student pilot, who had flown about 5 flight hours with the instructor, were conducting an instructional flight in the light sport airplane. The student pilot reported that he was conducting the takeoff with the instructor assisting, and about 200 ft. above ground level, the airplane began to drift off the runway centerline. The student said that he attempted to correct, but it felt like the airplane was losing engine power and the nose was dropping. He added that he was pulling back on the controls and that the instructor was also pulling back, in an attempt to recover. A witness reported seeing the airplane climbing after takeoff in a nose high attitude when the left wing dropped, and the airplane entered a descending left turn. The airplane then impacted two parked airplanes on a ramp adjacent to a parallel taxiway. A postcrash fire consumed the majority of the airplane. Due to the fire damage, only a limited examination could be conducted; however, no preimpact abnormities were noted with the engine and airframe. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a power-on departure stall.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.

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