Piper PA 28-235 N8983W

Summary

On 20 September 2016 at about 23:20 local time, a Piper PA 28-235 registered N8983W, operated by TEKO Air LLC, was involved in an accident near Lee's Summit, Missouri, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 September 2016 at 23:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Lee's Summit, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Lee's Summit (KLXT)

Coordinates

38.9606, -94.3756

Aircraft

Piper PA 28-235

Registration

N8983W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1964

Engines

1

Operator

TEKO Air LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ankeny → Lee's Summit

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16FA378

2 people died.

The pilot's improper control inputs during takeoff, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and subsequent departure stall, and loss of airplane control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and one passenger were on a cross-country flight in a single-engine airplane. Review of the airplane's radar flight track revealed that it was on a southerly heading to the destination airport and made a straight-in approach to runway 18. As the airplane neared the airport, a passenger filmed the approach section of the flight using her phone. A review of the footage showed that the approach appeared normal; however, during the landing flare, the airplane drifted slightly right. The camera then recorded the sound of the engine power increasing, followed immediately by the airplane touching down right of the runway centerline. The engine power then increases (likely either for a touch-and-go or for a go-around) and the airplane begins to climb in a right bank. The camera also captured images of the control yoke, which showed the pilot manipulating it aft and turning it left. Several witnesses also reported seeing segments of the accident flight, and several of the airport's security cameras captured portions of the flight. A review of the videos and witness statements confirmed that the airplane touched down on the runway and then lifted off in a nose-high, right-wing-low attitude. The airplane then entered a steep right climbing turn; one witness reported that the airplane reached about 200 to 300 ft above ground level. The airplane then completed a 180° turn with about a 90° bank angle; entered a rapid descent; impacted terrain in a right-wing-down, nose-low attitude; slid along the ramp; and came to rest on its right side. An examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any preimpact abnormalities. Based on the available information, the pilot overcontrolled the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in it exceeding its critical angle of attack that led to an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.