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ERA22LA128

2022-02-16 · Pahokee, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport PHK

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot’s incorrect tail wheel takeoff procedure, and the flight instructor’s lack of remedial action, which resulted in a nose over.

Factual narrative

The pilot receiving tail wheel instruction (student pilot) stated that during takeoff, he raised the tail wheel too high, and the propeller contacted the ground. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The student pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions and the flight instructor confirmed the student pilot’s statement. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspection revealed substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Lack of action-Instructor/check pilot
  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Student/instructed pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Pitch control-Not attained/maintained

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_ERA22LA128.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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