# NTSB ERA22LA286: Piper PA-38-112, N2512N, Gaithersburg, MD, June 19, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 19, 2022, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Gaithersburg, MD · runway 32
- Coordinates: 39.168285, -77.165971 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1683&lon=-77.1660&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105360
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA286
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105360/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105360
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA286

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control during the landing flare in gusting wind conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing the airplane in gusting wind conditions. He reported that during the landing flare he encountered wind shear that pushed the airplane down and to the right. The airplane landed hard on the grass adjacent to the right of the runway. At 1156, the recorded weather at GAI included wind from 300° magnetic at 11 knots, gusting to 21 knots, and the pilot landed on runway 32. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the main landing gear and engine cowling. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2512N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2512N), registered now, S/N 38-79A0856, built 1979 (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: 38-79A0856
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 4150.2
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 2021, 267.1 hours before
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: GAI, Montgomery County Airpark, runway 32, 4,202 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 23, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 271 total, 18 in this make and model, 207 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days
- Pilot-rated passenger; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 11 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: GAI
- METAR: KGAI 191556Z AUTO 30011G21KT 270V010 10SM CLR 20/07 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP206 T02000067

## 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 20220619010689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220619010689A), Jun 19, 2022: Piper PA-38-112, Gaithersburg, MD, Substantial damage. Gusty winds on approach; right of centerline; hard landing and wheelbarrowing/porposing on touchdown Accompanying passenger was also a pilot and CFI; passenger…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 8, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105360. 3.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14260233&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14254518&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf

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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