# NTSB ATL87LA264: Piper PA-38-112, N2488C, Winston Salem, NC, September 27, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 27, 1987, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Winston Salem, NC
- Coordinates: 36.00962, -80.179412 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0096&lon=-80.1794&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7523
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87LA264
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7523/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA264

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - level off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PERFORMING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AS PART OF HIS SUPERVISED SOLO TRAINING. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED TWICE BEFORE COMING TO REST WITH A COLLAPSED NOSE GEAR. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME DISCLOSED EXTENSIVE CRUSHING DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT'S UNDERCARRIAGE AND FIREWALL. THE STUDENT PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY AIRCRAFT PROBLEMS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2488C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2488C), registered now, S/N 38-79A0202, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-79A0202
- Airframe hours: 2023
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Piedmont Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 8, 1987, 91 hours before
- Airport: INT, Smith Reynolds, runway 33, 6,654 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 37 total, 27 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19870927056329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870927056329A), Sep 27, 1987: Piper PA38112, Winston Salem, NC, Substantial damage. Student made a hard landing. Aircraft porpoised and collapsed the nose gear.

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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