# NTSB ATL88LA192: Piper PA-38-112, N2609G, Mccormick, SC, June 10, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 10, 1988, 17:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Mccormick, SC
- Coordinates: 33.910335, -82.290618 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9103&lon=-82.2906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 8, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7773
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA192
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7773/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA192

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HER SECOND SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. SHE HAD DEPTD DONALDSON CENTER NEAR GREENVILLE, SC AND HAD FLOWN TO ATHENS, GA WHERE SHE HAD COMPLETED A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. SHE THEN PROCEEDED TO MCCORMICK, SC AND FLEW OVER THE AIRPORT TO CHECK THE WINDSOCK. IT WAS FAVORING RWY 36. WHEN SHE WAS ON EITHER BASE OR FINAL SHE STATED THAT THE WIND WAS 'SWITCHING AROUND'. SHE FLEW A NORMAL FINAL USING THE SLIP METHOD TO CORRECT FOR DRIFT. AT TOUCHDOWN SHE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN HARD ON ALL THREE WHEELS AND THE NEXT THING SHE KNEW THE AIRPLANE HAD COME TO STOP ON ITS NOSE. THE STUDENT HAD ABOUT 15 HOURS IN THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME, OF WHICH 5 HOURS WERE SOLO.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2609G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2609G-1992-11-23), registration cancelled 1992-11-23, S/N 3879A0568 (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: 3879A0568
- Airframe hours: 2894
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Int'L Flight Center
- Registered owner: Barend R. Devlaming
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1988
- Departed: AHN, ATHENS, GA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SC41, Mccormick  Co., runway 36, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 49 total, 15 in this make and model, 12 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AGS, 35 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 19880610019789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880610019789A), Jun 10, 1988: Piper PA38112, Mccormick, SC, Substantial damage. Student on a solo crosscountry landed aircraft hard causing the nose gear to collapse.

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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