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Soft-field takeoff ends in crash

By NTSB · May 25, 2020 ·

The flight instructor reported that, during a soft-field takeoff at the airport in LaGrange, Georgia, the student kept the stick back and allowed the Diamond DA20’s nose to rise.

The airplane drifted to the left and he reminded the student to apply right rudder and right aileron. He added that it seemed like the student applied too much right aileron, and the right wing was close to dragging on the runway.

The flight instructor prepared to take the flight controls, and the student overcorrected to the left and the left wing hit the ground.

The flight instructor took control of the airplane, reduced power, and taxied to park without further incident.

The student pilot reported that, during a soft-field takeoff, about 30 to 35 knots, the airplane lifted off the ground and encountered a crosswind that rolled the airplane to the right. The right wing dragged on the ground, he rolled the airplane to the left, and the left wing then hit the ground.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron.

The school’s chief flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control during a soft-field takeoff.

NTSB Identification: GAA18CA282

This May 2018 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

About NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in the other modes of transportation, including railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. It determines the probable causes of accidents and issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences.

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Comments

  1. Warren Webb Jr says

    May 30, 2020 at 9:58 am

    This type of uncontrolled rolling is a sign of too much angle of attack and being on the edge of a stall where one wing stalls and then the other, which can be caused by failing to release enough back pressure at liftoff to allow a proper airflow over the wing.

  2. Citabriabob says

    May 28, 2020 at 10:47 am

    Cross wind Soft field TO is the most difficult a pilot will make.

  3. José Serra says

    May 26, 2020 at 6:45 am

    Agree with Your comment gbigs

  4. gbigs says

    May 26, 2020 at 6:01 am

    If a student was asked to do a soft-field takeoff into a cross-wing then the instructor is at fault.

    • oldgeezer says

      May 26, 2020 at 7:06 am

      another brilliant reply by the most brilliant commentator ever

      • Wylbur says

        May 26, 2020 at 8:56 am

        +1

    • Bartr says

      May 26, 2020 at 7:06 am

      Oh yeah thats right. Who would ever try a cross wind take off from a short field? No need to practice that! Any real pilot flying a real airplane would know better.

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