Piper PA28 N425PA accident near Wickenburg, Arizona

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control during landing and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the subsequent aborted landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot reported that, on his second approach, he encountered "bumpy" air, and the airplane ballooned. He corrected by adding power, leveling the wings, and continuing the landing. Just before touchdown, the right wing lifted, and the airplane drifted left of the runway centerline. He applied power to go around, but the stall warning activated, and the airplane continued to drift left. Subsequently, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and collided with the ground and an airport taxiway sign.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage.

The student reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

About the time of the accident, the airport's automated weather reporting station reported that the wind was from 270° at 6 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 23.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA19CA212 for the full record.