# Accident 20060519030649A: Piper PA38112, La Porte, TX, May 19, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 19, 2006, 16:40 local time
- Place: La Porte, TX
- Airport: La Porte Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.6692° N, 95.0642° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6692&lon=-95.0642&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2378K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2378K-2017-06-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-38-112 (registry code 7103812, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA38112
- Reported engine: LYC O235L2A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 150 total, 121 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW06CA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA133) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060519030649A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE 1979 PIPER TOMAHAWK CRASHED AND FLIPPED INVERTED AFTER A DOWNWIND TAKE-OFF. THE 18 YEAR OLD STUDENT PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. EYEWITNESSES SAID THE WINDSOCK WAS INDICATING A SURFACE WIND OF AT LEAST 15 KNOTS FROM APPROXIMATELY 160 DEGREES WHEN THE TOMAHAWK MADE A "SHORT FIELD" TAKE-OFF ON RUNWAY 30. THE STUDENT PILOT SAID HE ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO DETERIORATE BELOW VX SPEED AND WAS IN A CONSTANT STALL WARNING HORN WHEN HE ELECTED TO CRASH STRAIGHT AHEAD AFTER HE SAW THAT HE COULD NOT ACCELERATE OR CLIMB. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN, WINGS LEVEL, ON THE GRASS, 76 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 30, AND HAD A GROUND ROLL OF 290 FEET BEFORE STRIKING A SIX FOOT TALL HEAVY DUTY CHAIN LINK FENCE. EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE SHOWS THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE FENCE IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE, AND TRAVELED ANOTHER 50 FEET BEFORE FLIPPING ON ITS BACK. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS, BOTH FLAPS, BOTH AILERONS, THE ENGINE MOUNT, THE FUSELAGE AND EMPENNAGE, AND SUDDEN STOPPAGE DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER AND ENGINE. THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT FUEL SPILL, BUT NO FIRE. THE STUDENT PILOT SAID HE HAD TO FORCEFULLY KICK THE LEFT DOOR OPEN IN ORDER TO EXIT THE INVERTED AIRPLANE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DFW06CA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA133), May 19, 2006: Piper PA-38-112 (N2378K), La Porte, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and his failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in a stall. A contributing factor was the prevailing tailwind.

## Other reports on N2378K (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19890509020039I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890509020039I), May 9, 1989: Piper PA38112 (N2378K), Farmingdale, NY, Minor damage. Wing tip struck a fuel truck while taxiing when instructor reached down to pick up his headset.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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