# NTSB CHI97LA295: Piper PA-38-112, N43DR, Greenwood, IN, September 17, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 1997, 18:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: Greenwood, IN - Coordinates: 39.590618, -85.569747 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5906&lon=-85.5697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10703 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA295 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10703/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA295 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the go-around, which resulted in an inadvertant stall. A factor related to the accident was the raising of flaps. ## 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) - raising of flaps - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The student pilot reported that while on final approach, she added a second notch of flaps. She then reduced power as she felt her altitude was too high. Shortly thereafter, she initiated a go-around as she felt her altitude was too low. During the go-around, she decreased the flap setting to zero. A witness, her flight instructor, reported the nose of the airplane then pitched up, and the left wing dropped. The airplane turned 90 to 120 degrees to the left as the main gear contacted the terrain. The airplane then slid sideways and came to rest in the grass between the runway and taxiway. The accident occurred on the student pilot's first solo flight. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 1997, at 1850 central daylight time, a Piper PA- 38-112, N43DR, operated by a student pilot, collided with the terrain while executing a go-around at the Greenwood Municipal Airport, Greenwood, Indiana, while on a solo training flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The local flight originated at 1840 cdt. The student pilot departed on runway 01. She reported that she made a left traffic pattern to return to runway 01 for a landing. The pilot reported that on base leg she added one notch of flaps followed by the turn to final approach. Once established on final approach she added the next notch of flaps. She reported that her altitude seemed high so she "decreased throttle slightly." She reported that her altitude then seemed low so she elected to execute a go-around during which she retracted the flaps to zero. According to her flight instructor, who witnessed the accident, the nose of the airplane then pitched up and the airplane yawed to the left. He reported that the left wing dropped and the airplane rotated 90 to 120 degrees to the left as the main landing gear contacted the ground. The airplane then skidded sideways coming to rest in the grass between the runway and the taxiway. The accident occurred during the student pilot's first solo flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43DR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43DR-1997-12-13), registration cancelled 1997-12-13, S/N 3882A0016 (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: 38-82A0016 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Greenwood Aircraft Services - Registered owner: Indiana Aircraft Service, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 20, 1997, 27 hours before - Departed: HFY - Destination: HFY - Airport: HFY, Greenwood Municipal, runway 1, 4,300 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 19 total, 19 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 21,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IND, 12 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 19970917027029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970917027029A), Sep 17, 1997: Piper PA38112, Indianapolis, IN, Substantial damage. Landed short rna onto runway. Struck runway light. (.4)the student pilot reported that while on final approach, she added a second notch of flaps. She then… ## Other investigations on N43DR (2) 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 CHI88LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88LA109), May 8, 1988: Piper PA-38-112 (N43DR), Indianapolis, IN, substantial damage - [NTSB DEN84LA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA257), Aug 19, 1984: Piper PA-38 (N43DR), Cheyenne, WY, 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. --- 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.