# NTSB FTW85LA270: Piper PA-38, N2342N, Granbury, TX, July 3, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 3, 1985, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Granbury, TX
- Coordinates: 32.43954, -97.779716 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4395&lon=-97.7797&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: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21785
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA270
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21785/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA270

## 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
  - airspeed - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - panic, dual student (cause)
  - control interference - improper, dual student (cause)
  - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO DETERIORATE DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AT ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE CFI THE STUDENT THEN FROZE ON THE CONTROLS AND HE (THE CFI) WAS UNABLE TO LOWER THE NOSE TO GAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED FOR RECOVERY. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO A FIELD ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAY AND RAN THROUGH A WIRE FENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2342N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-79A0794
- Airframe hours: 3388
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Derek R. White, doing business as Anglo American Flight Academy
- Registered owner: Derek R. White
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 1985
- Destination: FTW, FORT WORTH, TX
- Airport: FSS, Granbury

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 745 total, 390 in this make and model, 607 as pilot in command, 189 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19850703031689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850703031689A), Jul 3, 1985: Piper PA38112, Granbury, TX, Substantial damage. Student lost control after liftoff and aircraft began to roll and pitch. Descended into a field as student froze.

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.