# NTSB ATL97LA058: Piper PA-38-112, N9221T, Southern Pines, NC, March 22, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 22, 1997, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Southern Pines, NC
- Coordinates: 35.179836, -79.45919 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1798&lon=-79.4592&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 30, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3837
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3837/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA058

## Probable cause

the student pilot's improper landing flare and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the training flight, which led to a hard landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

The flight instructor (CFI) stated that, the student pilot was flying the airplane when the accident occurred. He reported that this was the last approach for this flight. The approach profile remained stable until the airplane was beyond the runway threshold. The CFI recalled that as the student started the landing flare, the airplane felt like it just stopped flying. In a failed attempt, the CFI applied additional engine power to recover from the no-fly condition; the airplane dropped about 15 feet onto the runway, and the left main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction nor did the CFI report a problem with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On March 22, 1997, at 1000 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-38-112, N9221T, collided with the runway during an attempted landing to runway 23 at the Moore County Airport in Southern Pines, North Carolina. The instructional flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor and the student pilot were not injured. The flight departed Southern Pines, at 0900.

According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was flying the airplane when the accident occurred. He reported that this was the last approach for this flight, and the approach profile was stable. The approach profile remained stable until the airplane was beyond the runway threshold. The flight instructor recalled that as the student pilot started the landing flare, the airplane felt like it just stopped flying. In a failed attempt, the flight instructor applied additional engine power to recover from the no fly condition; the airplane dropped about 15 feet onto the runway, and collapsed the left main landing gear. . Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem, nor did the flight instructor report a problem with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9221T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9221T-1998-10-17), registration cancelled 1998-10-17, S/N 3878A0281 (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: 38-78A0281
- Airframe hours: 3464
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Moore County Airport
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 23, 1997, 75 hours before
- Departed: SOP
- Airport: SOP, Moore County, runway 23, 5,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,650 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,580 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SOP, 360 nm away

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.