# NTSB ATL83LA131: Piper PA-38-112, N2528N, Charlotte, NC, March 6, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 6, 1983, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Charlotte, NC
- Location: 35.2271° N, 80.8431° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Charlotte, NC, within about 10 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2271&lon=-80.8431&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6029
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83LA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6029/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83LA131

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent total experience, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD BEEN DOING AIRWORK FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR AND RETURNED FOR TOUCH AND GO LANDING. AFTER SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL LANDINGS HE MADE ANOTHER APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED A HIGH SINK RATE AND TOUCHED DOWN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND PORPOISED AND VEERED LEFT. THE PILOT DID NOT TRY TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY BUT CONTINUED ON AND THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2528N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7103812
- Airframe hours: 2545
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Atlantic Flight Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: 8A6, Wilgrove Airpark, runway 17, 3,212 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 24 total, 24 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CLT, 13 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830306006519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830306006519A), Mar 6, 1983: Piper PA38112, Charlotte, NC, Substantial damage. Student pilot porpoised on landing. Ran off the runway into a tree.

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.

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