Piper PA-22-160 N8433D accident near Talkeetna, Alaska

Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.

NTSB analysis

The flight instructor reported that he assumed control of the airplane shortly after takeoff to demonstrate a low-altitude maneuver to the private pilot. He said that during a left turn, the nose started to drop, the airplane descended, and it sounded like the speed was increasing. The flight instructor added power, leveled the airplane’s wings, and released the back pressure on the control yoke trying to break any stall, but the airplane continued to descend. As the airplane approached the ground, the instructor increased back pressure on the control yoke, but there was no response. The airplane impacted the ground. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC12LA107 for the full record.