20040318007389A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-38-112 · Jean, NV · March 18, 2004

Date: March 18, 2004 · 17:17 local
Place: Jean, NV
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N2421D
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04FA167
Reported as: Piper PA38112
Reported engine: Lycoming O235*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 41 total41 in this make and model5 in the last 90 days

N2421DRegistration cancelled May 24, 2004 · Piper PA-38-112S/N 38-79A0305 · Built 1978 Airframe modelPiper PA-38-112 Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On March 18, 2004 a Piper PA-38-112 impacted terrain under unknown circumstances. On scene investigation revealed aircraft impacted the ground in a left wing nose down attitude. Other findings included right hand aileron primary flight control cable not attached to center wing bellcrank and substantial damage to aircraft. The student piloting the aircraft had accumulated 41 hours of flight time and possessed a first class medical certificate.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON MARCH 18, 2004 A PIPER PA-38-112 IMPACTED TERRAIN UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. OTHER FINDINGS INCLUDED RIGHT HAND AILERON PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL CABLE NOT ATTACHED TO CENTER WING BELLCRANK AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT. THE STUDENT PILOTING THE AIRCRAFT HAD ACCUMULATED 41 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME AND POSSESSED A FIRST CLASS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04FA167Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportJean, NVThe student pilot's failure to regain control of the aircraft following an upset due to the disconnected primary right aileron control cable. The failure of the company maintenance personnel to detect and correct the improperly secured turnbuckle fitting at…Mar 19, 2004 · Destroyed