# NTSB CHI96LA298: Piper PA-38, N2538N, Fairbury, NE, August 15, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 14, 1996, 19:45 local (Aug 15, 1996, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Fairbury, NE - Coordinates: 40.099903, -96.929992 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0999&lon=-96.9300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10363 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA298 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10363/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA298 ## Probable cause inadequate airspeed and an inadvertant stall during the initial takeoff climb. Factors associated with the accident were the rough terrain used for takeoff and the ditch at the departure end on the field. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Nose over, other ## Analysis The student pilot landed the airplane in a farm field after becoming disoriented and low on fuel. The student called his instructor who flew to a nearby airport. The student and instructor purchased fuel, refueled the airplane and attempted to takeoff from the rough farm field. They reported that when the airplane crossed over a ditch at the end of the field, the airplane settled, impacted the terrain and nosed over. The instructor stated he did not walk the field to check its condition prior to the takeoff. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 1996, at 1945 central daylight time, a Piper PA-38, N2538N, registered to Shenandoah Aviation, Inc., nosed over following a loss of control on takeoff from a farm field in Fairbury, Nebraska. The airplane was substantially damaged. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and the student pilot on board were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The destination for the flight was Shenandoah, Iowa. The CFI stated that he and the student pilot had flown together from Shenandoah, Iowa, to Omaha, Nebraska, to pick up another airplane. He stated that he was to fly one airplane back to Shenandoah and the student pilot was to fly N2538N back. He stated that the visibility had decreased down to four or five miles with haze at the time of the return flight. Upon his arrival at Shenandoah he noted that the student had not returned. A short time later he received a telephone call from the student who stated that he became disoriented during the return flight and was low on fuel, so he landed the airplane in a farm field in Fairbury. The CFI stated he then flew to Fairbury where he was met by the student pilot. They purchased five gallons of fuel and proceeded to the field where N2538N was located. The CFI stated they added the five gallons of fuel to N2538N and attempted to takeoff from the field. The CFI stated he did not walk the field to check its condition prior to taking off. He stated that the field was rough and there was a ditch at the departure end. The CFI reported, "...when we flew above this ditch, there seemed to be some dead air that pulled us back down and the airplane passed over the ditch and landed hard on the other side of the ditch and then flipped over onto its back." The student pilot's recall of the events surrounding the accident were basically the same as the CFI's. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2538N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2538N-2013-03-11), registration cancelled 2013-03-11, S/N 38-79A0907, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38 - 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: 38-79A0907 - Airframe hours: 5470 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-LCS 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Shenandoah Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 17, 1996, 65 hours before - Destination: SDA, SHENANDOAH, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 9,950 total, 4,700 in this make and model, 9,700 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BIE, 20 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 19960814022599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960814022599A), Aug 14, 1996: Piper PA38112, Fairbury, NE, Substantial damage. (.4)The student pilot landed the airplane in a farm field after becoming disoriented and low on fuel. The student called his instructor who flew to a nearby… 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.