Piper PA-28-180 accident near Bisbee, Arizona, January 24, 2009
On January 24, 2009 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N5117L, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Bisbee, Arizona (Bisbee International Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight and delay in remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 2009 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Bisbee, Arizona · Bisbee International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5117L · registry record · serial 28-4400
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the instructional flight, the student pilot initiated the takeoff roll normally. As the airplane accelerated, it began to weave back and forth until it suddenly yawed sharply to the left. The flight instructor applied back pressure to the control yoke and the airplane became airborne. As the student pilot relinquished control of the airplane, she removed her hand from the throttle and inadvertently reduced it to the idle position. The flight instructor immediately advanced the throttle to the full open position as the airplane started to descend. Subsequently, the right main landing gear struck the runway precision approach path indicator lights and impacted the ground, resulting in structural damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor and student pilot stated that there were no anomalies with the flight control system or the engine at the time of the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,565 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 9,500 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 10, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 9 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,447 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2008; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DUG Bisbee AZ at 7:50 pm
- Destination: AVQ Marana AZ
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 17, 7,311 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 300 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from DUG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.