# NTSB CHI89LA164: Piper PA38-112, N9103A, Milwaukee, WI, July 24, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 24, 1989, 17:09 local (22:09 UTC)
- Place: Milwaukee, WI
- Coordinates: 42.980415, -87.900825 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9804&lon=-87.9008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14400
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89LA164
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14400/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA164

## Probable cause

STUDENT PILOT'S MISJUDGED AIRCRAFT HANDLING DURING THE LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN, AND THE CFI'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE OPERATION. THESE RESULTED IN AN ABRUPT TOUCHDOWN, A SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRCRAFT'S COLLISION WITH THE VASI LIGHT STRUCTURES.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - aircraft handling - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - lack of total experience, dual student (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - touchdown - abrupt, dual student (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve
  - relinquishing of control - not performed, dual student (cause)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - airport facility (cause)
  - object - runway light (cause)

## Analysis

DURING A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, WHILE PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS IN PREPARATION FOR STUDENT SOLO FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTEDLY FLARED TOO HIGH. THE CFI STATED THAT HE WAITED FOR THE STUDENT TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION, BUT THE STUDENT FAILED TO DO SO, AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE RUNWAY ABRUPTLY. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND SKIDDED INTO A VASI LIGHT STRUCTURE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD APPROXIMATELY 25 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT TIME AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9103A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9103A-1990-12-11), registration cancelled 1990-12-11, S/N 3882A0087 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA38-112
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-82A0087
- Airframe hours: 2499
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Oulton, Frederick, doing business as Mitchell Aeronautical Inst.
- Registered owner: Oulton, Frederick
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 9, 1989, 28 hours before
- Airport: MWC, Laurence J Timmerman, runway 15L, 4,107 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 700 total, 31 in this make and model, 660 as pilot in command, 235 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °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 19890724028349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890724028349A), Jul 24, 1989: Piper PA38112, Milwaukee, WI, Substantial damage. Student flared too high then froze on controls. Landed hard veered off runway and hit a VASI.

## Other investigations on N9103A (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA83LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA83LA189), Jul 2, 1983: Piper PA-38-112 (N9103A), Brooksville, FL, substantial damage

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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