# NTSB FTW88LA127: Piper PA-32-300, N3969M, Lake Charles, LA, June 29, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 28, 1988, 22:45 local (Jun 29, 1988, 03:45 UTC)
- Place: Lake Charles, LA
- Coordinates: 30.209272, -93.199157 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2093&lon=-93.1992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 4 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22657
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88LA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22657/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA127

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - aircraft service - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted
  - throttle/power control - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

BETWEEN FLIGHTS, THE PILOT NOTICED THE NOSE WAS VERY HIGH WHILE TAXIING BUT THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE THE STRUT HAD FAILED TO COMPRESS. ON THE NEXT TOUCHDOWN, ON THE MAIN WHEELS, THE AIRPLANE STARTED PORPOISING AND DESPITE THE PILOT'S CORRECTIONS, THE PORPOISING INCREASED IN AMPLITUDE. PILOT APPLIED POWER FOR A GO-AROUND AND THE AIRPLANE STARTED A SHALLOW LEFT TURN THAT PILOT COULD NOT CONTROL WITH RUDDER OR AILERON. AIRPLANE TRAVELED 100 TO 200 FEET BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN, LEFT WING FIRST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3969M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3969M-1989-03-03), registration cancelled 1989-03-03, S/N 327840076 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32 7840076
- Airframe hours: 2375
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Michael W. Guidry
- Registered owner: Aero Six, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 1988, 25 hours before
- Departed: BNA, NASHVILLE, TN
- Destination: KLCH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KLCH, Municipal, runway 15, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 422 total, 16 in this make and model, 337 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19880628023919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880628023919A), Jun 28, 1988: Piper PA32300, Lake Charles, LA, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised on landing. Began go around nose high and too slow. Veered left wing low and hit the ground.

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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