Deer Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Phoenix, Arizona 85051
Thursday, November 20, 2003 11:03 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane veered off of the runway after the left engine lost power during the takeoff roll. The purpose of the flight was an intermediate stage-check for the student, prior to his multi-engine checkride. The preflight and run-up were uneventful. Approximately 5 seconds after the takeoff roll commenced, the left engine lost power and the airplane veered to the left. The CFI assumed control of the airplane, closing both throttles. The airplane continued turning to the left and the airplane departed the runway surface. The right main gear collapsed and the right engine impacted the ground and stopped. The left engine was idling after the airplane came to a stop. The left engine was test-run following the accident; no mechanical malfunctions were noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight and delayed remedial action, which resulted in a loss of directional control. The reason for the partial power loss in the left engine was not determined.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/20/2003
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1103
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Phoenix
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85051
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 334118N
Event Location Longitude 1120457W
Event Location Airport Deer Valley Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KDVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1478
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16992
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Nov 20 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1120
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2004 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-SDL-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N971PA
NTSB Number LAX04LA049
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-44-180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4496031
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 31 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 34.5
Airframe Hours 2506.8
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DGV Holdings
Aircraft Owner Street Address 530 W Deer Valley Rd, Suite 100
Aircraft Owner City Phoenix
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85027
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KDVT
Departure City Phoenix
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1103
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code KDVT
Destination City Phoenix
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 4 2004 4:51PM
User who most recently changed record RICJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 7R
Runway Length 8208
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --