# NTSB ATL88LA143: Piper PA-38-112, N91371, Painesville, OH, April 14, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 14, 1988, 10:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Painesville, OH
- Coordinates: 41.720787, -81.239715 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7208&lon=-81.2397&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7738
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7738/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA143

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - stall/mush - not corrected, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE CFI REPORTED THAT WHILE PERFORMING A SIMULATED SHORT FIELD TAKE-OFF THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT AND SETTLED INTO THE TREES. THE CFI HELD HIS CERTIFICATE FOR ONE MONTH AND THE STUDENT PLT HAD LOGGED JUST OVER FIFTY HOURS. THIS AIRPORT WAS NOT APPROVED FOR USE BY CFI'S EMPLOYED BY THE OPERATOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91371](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91371-1991-04-01), registration cancelled 1991-04-01, S/N 3881A0167 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3881A0167
- Airframe hours: 2176
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Airspect Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: Airspect Air, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 13, 1987, 89 hours before
- Departed: AKR, AKRON, OH
- Airport: 2G1, Concord, runway 20, 2,200 × 45 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 888 total, 100 in this make and model, 808 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CGF, 25 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 19880414010169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880414010169A), Apr 14, 1988: Piper PA38112, Painesville, OH, Destroyed. Aircraft settled into trees on a practice short field takeoff. Downdraft was blamed. Airport not on approved list.

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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