# NTSB CHI93LA363: Piper PA-38-112, N2353K, Griffith, IN, September 16, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 16, 1993, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Griffith, IN
- Coordinates: 41.519119, -87.420898 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5191&lon=-87.4209&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9315
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA363
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9315/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA363

## Probable cause

the improper recovery from a bounced landing by the pilot-in- command.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

The student pilot was attempting a full stop landing.  The airplane touched down hard and ballooned.  A witness estimated the airplane went 25-30 feet in the air.  The student then added power to execute a go-around, but the airplane was in a nose-down attitude.  The airplane struck the runway collapsing the nose landing gear.

## Factual narrative

On September 16, 1993, at 1315 eastern standard time, a Piper PA- 38-112, N2353K, sustained substantial damage during a bounced landing at the Griffith Airport, Griffith, Indiana.  The solo student pilot was not injured.  The instructional flight originated at the Gary Regional Airport, Gary, Indiana, at 1200.  No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

A witness reported the airplane touched down and ballooned about 25-30 feet in the air.  He stated it sounded like the pilot then applied power.  He saw the airplane contact the runway nose down, and the nose landing gear collapse.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2353K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2353K-1995-03-08), registration cancelled 1995-03-08, S/N 3879A0587 (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: 38-79A0587
- Airframe hours: 2923
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gary Jet Center
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 4, 1993, 40 hours before
- Departed: GYY, GARY, IN
- Airport: 05C, Griffith, runway 26, 4,013 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 95 total, 95 in this make and model, 41 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GYY, 7 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 19930916034509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930916034509A), Sep 16, 1993: Piper PA38112, Griffith, IN, Substantial damage. Ballooned 25 feet into aird on landing. Came down nose first and collapsed the nose 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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