# NTSB FTW94LA045: Piper PA-38-112, N2360A, Denton, TX, December 5, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 5, 1993, 10:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Denton, TX
- Coordinates: 33.209651, -97.130393 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2097&lon=-97.1304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18974
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18974/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA045

## Probable cause

THE CAUSE WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR EXISTING  WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS THE TURBULENT WEATHER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR A SUPERVISED CROSS COUNTRY SOLO FLIGHT. THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND HE ABORTED THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AND ELECTED TO LAND AT ANOTHER AIRPORT; DURING APPOACH TO THE INTENDED LANDING POINT, HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE THAT MADE AIRCRAFT CONTROL DIFFICULT. JUST PRIOR TO CROSSING THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AND IMPACTED THE GROUND 7 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.

## Factual narrative

On December 5, 1993, at 1015 central standard time, a Piper PA-38-112, N2360A, was substantially damaged while landing at the Denton Municipal Airport, near Denton, Texas.  The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the solo instructional flight.

According to the operator, the student pilot had been cleared to conduct a cross country flight from Addison, Texas, to Durant, Oklahoma.  The student pilot stated that after becoming airborne, he contacted the flight service station to open his visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan. At that point the pilot was informed that moderate turbulence had been reported for his route of flight ahead of his present position.

The student pilot aborted his cross country flight and elected to land at the Denton Municipal Airport. He further reported that while en route to the intended airport the turbulence increased and he had difficulty controlling the airplane.

An inspection of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane impacted the ground 7 feet short of the runway.

Damage to the airplane consisted of structural damage to the right wing, as well as the collapsing of the nose and right main landing gear. The structural support for the right landing gear attaching point was fractured.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2360A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2360A-1995-12-06), registration cancelled 1995-12-06, S/N 3878A0653 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-78A0653
- Airframe hours: 3983
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: North Dallas Flight School
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 9, 1993, 56 hours before
- Departed: ADS, ADDISON, TX
- Destination: DUA, DURANT, OK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: DTO, Denton Municipal Airport, runway 17, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19931205046079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931205046079A), Dec 5, 1993: Piper PA38112, Denton, TX, Substantial damage. Student elected unscheduled landing en route at dto due to turbulence and SIGMET on same. Landed short of runway.

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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