- Date
- November 4, 1997, 18:30 local (Nov 5, 1997, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Madison, WI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2536NPiper PA-38
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report May 29, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19971104031759A
- Case key
- 10776
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the flight instructor's (CFI's) inadequate supervision of the flight, and his failure to ensure that control of the airplane was maintained. Factors associated with the accident were: the CFI's improper use of flaps, and subsequent contact with the runway light.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The instructor (CFI) had the student fly the airplane down the runway in ground effect with full flaps. The CFI then raised the flaps to the first notch, at which time, he became distracted. He reported that by the time his attention returned to the airplane, it had veered to the left side of the runway. According to the CFI, they were too slow to fly out of ground effect, so full power was added in an attempt to recover. The right wing then contacted a runway light off the left side of the runway.
Factual narrative
On November 4, 1997, at 1830 central standard time, a Piper PA- 38, N2536N, operated by Wisconsin Aviation, collided with a runway light while maneuvering over on runway 18 (9,005' x 150') at the Dane Country Regional Airport, Madison, Wisconsin. The instructional flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was being operated in visual meteorological prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Dane County Regional Airport at 1800 central standard time.
The instructor reported that they were cleared to make a touch and go on runway 18. After touching down he instructed the student to climb to 50 feet and set up for another landing without flying around the traffic pattern. He reported he had the student fly the airplane down the runway in ground effect with full flaps. The instructor reported he then told the student he was going to raise the flaps to the first notch. He reported he may have been distracted and when his attention returned to the airplane it had drifted to the left side of the runway. The instructor reported they were flying too slow to fly out of ground effect so full power was applied at which time the right wing contacted a runway light. The instructor was able to get the airplane back over the runway where an uneventful landing was made.
The student pilot reported that he and his instructor were practicing touch and go landings. The student reported that the instructor was flying the airplane down the runway in ground effect. The instructor then reduced the flaps at which time the airplane veered to the left. Power was added and the right wing contacted a runway light on the left side of the runway.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2536N
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 38-079A0905
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Wisconsin Aviation
- Registered owner
- L&S Leasing And Investment Co.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 17, 1997
- Departed
- MSN
- Destination
- MSN
- Airport
- MSN · Dane County, runway 18, 9,005 × 150 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 667 total · 24 in this make and model · 620 as pilot in command · 54 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,700 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MSN
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.