Stall / Spin · NTSB WPR09FA400
PIPER PA-24 — Prescott, AZ
| Date | August 17, 2009 |
| Location | Prescott, AZ |
| Aircraft | PIPER PA-24 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Initial climb Aerodynamic stall/spin |
| Pilot age | 66 |
| Pilot total time | 750 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-High density altitude-Effect on operation
What happened
During the initial climb after takeoff, the pilot told the air traffic controller that he needed to return to the airport but did not say what the issue was. The controller approved the pilot’s request; there were no further communications. Several witnesses at different locations around the accident area reported watching the airplane flying slowly, low above the runway, in a relatively steep nose-up pitch attitude before making a left turn that increased in bank angle before the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. A postcrash fire largely consumed the airplane; however, postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to be about 7,900 feet. High density altitude adversely affects airplane climb performance and requires pilot vigilance to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff and climb.