# NTSB BFO92LA084: Piper PA-38-112, N9218T, Moneta, VA, July 2, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1992, 12:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place: Moneta, VA
- Coordinates: 37.179702, -79.630233 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1797&lon=-79.6302&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 7, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11807
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11807/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA084

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE.   FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE STUDENT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND PROXIMITY OF THE TREE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS FIRST CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. AS HE WAS LANDING AT AN EN ROUTE AIRPORT, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED DURING TOUCHDOWN.  THE STUDENT THEN LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A TREE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9218T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9218T-1994-05-26), registration cancelled 1994-05-26, S/N 3878A0280 (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: 38-78A0280
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Carolina Air Academy, Inc
- Registered owner: Carolina Air Academy, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MWK, MOUNT AIRY, NC
- Destination: W91
- Airport: W91, Smith Mountain Lake, runway 23, 3,050 × 50 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

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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