# NTSB DEN99LA095: Piper PA-38-112, N4273E, Houston, TX, June 3, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 3, 1999, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Location: 29.7633° N, 95.3633° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Houston, TX, within about 14 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7633&lon=-95.3633&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46472 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46472/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA095 ## Probable cause Inadequate remedial action by the pilot in command (CFI) after the student failed to maintain control of the aircraft during the final stages of a visual approach to land. Factors were gusting crosswinds and the flight instructor's lack of total instructional experience. ## 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) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student - go-around - attempted, pilot in command(cfi) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) ## Analysis While conducting a visual approach to land in gusting crosswinds, the dual student failed to maintain control of the aircraft. The flight instructor, who had 25 hours flight experience as an instructor, attempted to perform a go-around and the aircraft impacted the ground beside the runway of intended landing. ## Factual narrative On June 3, 1999, at 1730 central daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N4273E, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground during a go-around at May Field, Houston, Texas. The certified flight instructor and his student were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area instructional flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from David Wayne Hooks Field, Spring, Texas, at 1620. According to the flight instructor, the student was flying and a crosswind caused him to lose control. During the attempted go-around, the aircraft struck the ground. The flight instructor reported he had 365 hours total flight experience with 25 hours as a flight instructor and 24 hours as a flight instructor in the accident make and model aircraft. The student reported he had 160 hours total flight experience with 17 hours in the accident make and model aircraft and 4 hours as pilot in command in the accident make and model. The closest weather reporting station was at David Wayne Hooks Field, Spring, Texas located approximately 4 miles from the accident site. Weather at that facility at 1753 indicated the winds were from 160 degrees at 10 knots with no gusts reported. The flight instructor reported the winds at May Field were from 230 degrees at 10 with gusts to 20 at the time of the accident. Both the instructor and the weather station indicated there were scattered clouds at 4,000 to 5,000 feet. The landing was being made on runway 17. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4273E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4273E-2017-04-07), registration cancelled 2017-04-07, S/N 38-78A0518, built 1978 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-78A0518 - Airframe hours: 7122 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Moonstar Flight Academy - Registered owner: Aviones, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 24, 1999, 73 hours before - Departed: DWH, SPRING, TX - Destination: 2XS3 - Airport: 2XS3, Houston - May, runway 17, 3,440 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 365 total, 25 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 90 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DWH, 4 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 19990603006359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990603006359A), Jun 3, 1999: Piper PA38112, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (.4) On June 3, 1999, at 1730 central daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N4273E, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground during a go-around at… 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.