# NTSB FTW96LA185: Piper PA-38-112, N2537D, Alice, TX, April 23, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 23, 1996, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Alice, TX
- Location: 27.7409° N, 98.0269° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ALICE INTL (ALI), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7409&lon=-98.0269&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19817
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA185
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19817/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA185

## Probable cause

the student pilot's improper landing flare and improper bounced landing recovery.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

During a supervised solo flight, the student pilot landed hard and a porpoise developed.  The nose landing gear sheared, the propeller struck the pavement, and then the aircraft struck a runway sign which damaged the left wing and punctured the fuel cell.

## Factual narrative

On April 23, 1996, at 1643 central daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N2537D, was substantially damaged while landing at the Alice International Airport, in Alice, Texas.  The airplane was owned by AVlease Inc., and operated by Southwind Aviation of Brownsville, Texas.  The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured.  The supervised solo cross country flight was conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight for which a flight plan was filed.  The airplane last departed from Corpus Christi International Airport, approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident.

According to witnesses, the airplane made an approach to Runway 13, landed hard, bounced and porpoised 2 or 3 times, collapsing the nose landing gear.  The airplane veered off the runway and impacted a taxiway sign resulting in substantial damage to the left wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2537D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2537D), registered now, S/N 38-79A0359, built 1978 (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: 38-79A0350
- Airframe hours: 2409
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2A 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Avlease, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CRP, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
- Destination: ALI
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: ALI, Alice International, runway 13, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ALI

## 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 19960423012989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960423012989A), Apr 23, 1996: Piper PA38112, Alice, TX, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised landing. Collapsed nose gear. Wing struck taxiway sign. Indicates lack of nose up trim.

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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