Albert J Ellis Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jacksonville, North Carolina 28542
Thursday, May 9, 2013 16:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the solo student pilot, he returned to the traffic pattern following some airwork, and was practicing landings to a full stop. On final approach to runway 5, the airplane drifted to the left side of the runway. The left main landing gear touched down first, and the airplane pivoted to the left. The student attempted a full power go-around, and as he pulled back on the yoke during takeoff, the left wing stalled, and the nose gear struck the ground. The airplane spun around 180 degrees before coming to a stop, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. He reported that the wind was calm just before the landing. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the go-around attempt, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and collision with the ground.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/9/2013
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1650
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Jacksonville
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28542
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 344945N
Event Location Longitude 0773644W
Event Location Airport Albert J Ellis Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OAJ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 93
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID OAJ
Elevation of weather observation facility 93
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report 2013-05-09 16:55 METAR KOAJ 092055Z AUTO 25007KT 1
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31483
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 6 2013 2:29PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4518F
NTSB Number ERA13CA235
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-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7725019
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 28
Airframe Hours 3958
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name PITTMAN DANIEL W
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 1 BOX 186
Aircraft Owner City MAY
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 73851
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name PITTMAN DANIEL W
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address RT 1 BOX 186
Operator City MAY
Operator State OK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 73851
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code OAJ
Departure City Jacksonville
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1540
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code OAJ
Destination City Jacksonville
Destination State NC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 6 2013 2:29PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 05
Runway Length 7100
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --