# NTSB BFO88LA037: Piper PA-28-180, N7947N, Wise, VA, April 30, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 30, 1988, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Wise, VA
- Coordinates: 36.96997, -82.580795 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9700&lon=-82.5808&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): 11405
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO88LA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11405/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88LA037

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - raising of flaps - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing - aborted
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT AND ATTEMPTING HIS SECOND SOLO LANDING WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL IN A LEFT CROSSWIND.  THE ACFT DRIFTED RIGHT AND THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO DO A GO-AROUND TO AVOID GOING OFF THE SIDE OF THE RWY. THE PLT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO GAIN ALTITUDE. HE THEN RAISED THE FLAPS WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH ROUGH TERRAIN NEXT TO THE RWY WHERE THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7947N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7947N-1989-11-28), registration cancelled 1989-11-28, S/N 285363 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-5363
- Airframe hours: 3154
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Bolding Aviation
- Registered owner: H. H. Hayden
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 2, 1987, 27 hours before
- Airport: LNP, Lonesome Pine, runway 6, 4,702 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 6 knots, gusting 10
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19880430011279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880430011279A), Apr 30, 1988: Piper PA28180, Wise, VA, Substantial damage. On first solo over-corrected on a swerve. Began go around, drifted off runway. Landed rough area, collapsed 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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