# NTSB CHI02LA122: Piper PA-38-112, N2494B, Hastings, MI, May 4, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 4, 2002, 11:55 local (15:55 UTC) - Place: Hastings, MI - Coordinates: 42.650836, -85.279411 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6508&lon=-85.2794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration-Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54672 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54672/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54672 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA122 ## Probable cause The failure to attain airspeed, inadequate supervision of the flight, and delayed remedial action which resulted in a stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - airspeed - not attained, dual student (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - stall/mush (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - runway light (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - airport sign/marker (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage during an aborted landing attempt. During the instructional flight the student pilot began the landing flare approximately 15 to 20 feet above ground level (agl) and then elected to perform a go-around. During the go-around the aircraft continued to descend and the certified flight instructor (CFI) took over the control of the airplane. The CFI stated, "My first action was to verify throttle and mixture were both forward - which they were. At this time the stall warning horn sounded so I immediately lowered the nose to gain airspeed. At this point we were ~ 5 feet off the ground in ground effect and I remember the right wing was lowered in an attempt to get back to the runway." The student pilot reported, "With full power applied the plane started to sink. The instructor took control of the airplane. The plane refused to fly and went down to the left of runway 12." The airplane impacted three runway edge lights, a runway marker cone, and a runway intersection sign prior to the nose gear collapsing. ## Factual narrative On May 4, 2002, at 1155 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N2494B, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Hastings Airport (9D9), Hastings, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and his single student were not injured. The flight departed 9D9 at 1115 for the local flight. According to the CFI's written statement, after completing some basic flight maneuvers in the practice area they returned to the departure airport to practice landings. The CFI reported that on the first approach to runway 12 (3,900 feet by 75 feet, dry/asphalt) the student, "flared high and drifted left of the runway." The CFI stated the student executed a go-around without incident. The CFI reported that on the second landing attempt, "... the student was maintaining the extended centerline on final, then over the numbers he flared ~15 - 20 ft AGL [feet above ground level] and drifted left of the runway. I called for 'Go around'; the student had already initiated it [the go-around] by applying full throttle and pitching for a climb attitude." The CFI stated during the go-around the airplane continued to "... sink towards the ground. I called 'my airplane', and took over the controls. My first action was to verify throttle and mixture were both full forward-which they were. At this time the stall warning horn sounded so I immediately lowered the nose to gain airspeed. At this point we were ~5 feet off the ground parallel the runway over the left runway lights and still sinking. I was unable to maintain level flight in ground effect and I remember the right wing was lowered in an attempt to get back to the runway. I rolled wings level and raised the nose, then we struck a runway light and landed main wheels first on the grass to the left of the runway. The aircraft impacted a yellow cone (from runway 18-36), then the prop dug in and we spun to a stop nose down in the grass." According to the student pilot's written statement, during the second landing attempt a go-around was attempted. The student pilot stated, "... I applied full power to abort the landing, as my CFI stated the landing was to be aborted. With full power applied the plane started to sink. The instructor took control of the airplane. The plane refused to fly and went down to the left of runway 12. We hit runway lights and a runway sign. For most of the time as we went down I had my eyes closed and only saw the airplane hit a runway light and the ground [as] we came to a stop." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2494B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2494B), registered now, S/N 38-79A0092, built 1978 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-79A0092 - Airframe hours: 8638.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aerosky Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 5, 2001, 27 hours before - Departed: 9D9, Hastings, MI - Destination: 9D9, Hastings, MI - Airport: 9D9, Hastings Airport, runway 12, 3,900 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 10, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 352 total, 15 in this make and model, 261 as pilot in command - Student pilot; age 42; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 28 total, 26 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: GRR, 15 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 20020504009609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020504009609A), May 4, 2002: Piper PA38112, Hastings, MI, No damage. (-23) Mr. Morgenstern was the PIC and acting as a flight instructor. The student flared high during landing; instructor took controls but was late in trying to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 13, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54672. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 656 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437630&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437631&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Redacted.PDF - FAA Accident Report (item 3, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437632&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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.