Piper PA 28 N5541F

Summary

On 19 October 2016 at about 22:00 local time, a Piper PA 28 registered N5541F was involved in an accident near Fresno, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 October 2016 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Fresno, California, United States

Nearest airport

Fresno Yosemite Intl (FAT)

Coordinates

36.7717, -119.7083

Aircraft

Piper PA 28

Registration

N5541F

Category

Airplane

Year built

1968

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fresno → Fresno

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA035

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during departure due to being distracted by looking for his phone.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he flew to a tower-controlled airport to practice simulated engine failure approaches and landings. During departure following his fifth approach, he wanted to know what time it was and began looking for his phone, including reaching behind the seat to find it. He further reported that he must have been pulling back on the yoke while searching, and when he looked forward, the airplane was in a right yaw. He reported that he did not remember anything after that but believed that the airplane aerodynamically stalled and subsequently impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.