- Date
- March 24, 1996, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Slidell, LA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9385TPiper PA-38-112
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 9, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960324004999A
- Case key
- 19789
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the approach, and his failure to execute a go-around. A factor was the gusting wind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During an approach to runway 18, the aircraft was overtaking a landing aircraft. The pilot performed a series of low altitude (100 to 150 feet) S-turns to increase the distance between his aircraft and the aircraft in front of him. According to witnesses, these S-turns were at a 'very high angle of bank.' The pilot reported that when the aircraft was at tree level and at an airspeed of 80 knots, 'wind shear' was encountered. The wind 'shoved the aircraft to the left and to the ground.' According to the FAA inspector the winds at Slidell Airport were from 120 degrees at 15 gusting to 22 knots.
Factual narrative
On March 24, 1996, at 1130 central standard time, a Piper PA-38-112, N9385T, registered to a private owner, and operated by RFB Flying Service under Title 14 CFR Part 91, was substantially damaged during an attempted landing at Slidell Airport, Slidell, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. The private pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Lakefront Airport, New Orleans, Louisiana, about 15 minutes before the accident.
In an interview with the FAA inspector, the pilot reported that when the aircraft descended below the trees that were located about 300 feet to the left of runway 18, the aircraft was "blown into the ground." According to the FAA inspector the winds at Slidell Airport were from 120 degrees at 15 gusting to 22 knots.
The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Report that when the aircraft was at tree level and at an airspeed of 80 knots, "wind shear" was encountered. The wind "shoved the aircraft to the left and to the ground."
According to the FAA inspector, the aircraft was overtaking a landing aircraft. The pilot performed a series of low altitude (100 to 150 feet) "S" turns to increase the distance between his aircraft and the aircraft in front of him. According to witnesses, these "S" turns were at a "very high angle of bank."
Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed that the left wing was partially separated, and the left main landing gear and nose landing gear were folded under the fuselage. The right main landing gear was also damaged, and the aft fuselage was wrinkled. Control continuity was established to all flight controls.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9385T
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38-112
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 38-78A0085
- Airframe hours
- 2,706
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Rfb Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Rocco F. Bonura
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · February 7, 1996 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- NEW · New Orleans, LA
- Destination
- 6R0
- Airport
- 6R0 · Slidell, runway 18, 4,058 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 68
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,060 total · 100 in this make and model · 859 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,300 ft broken
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- NEW, 21 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.