# NTSB FTW97LA095: Piper PA-38-112, N2493A, Boswell, OK, January 30, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 30, 1997, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Boswell, OK - Coordinates: 34.01992, -95.860153 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0199&lon=-95.8602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20155 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20155/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA095 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper inflight planning and decision, after becoming lost/disoriented, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, before landing in a suitable landing area. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot of another aircraft did not accurately identify the lost airplane before providing directions, and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing, once the engine lost power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - identification of aircraft visually - inaccurate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis According to the student pilot and the operator of the airplane, the student was on a solo cross country flight from Rockwall, Texas, to Bonham, Texas, with an intermediate stop in Paris, Texas. During the flight from Rockwall to Paris, the student did not locate his destination airport. After trying to find the airport for approximately 20 minutes, he continued on toward Bonham, which was approximately 37 nautical miles from Paris. The student became disoriented and attempted to contact both Fort Worth and McAlester Flight Service Stations without success. Other pilots in the area heard the student's calls and attempted to help. A pilot, who thought he saw the student's airplane (but might have seen another airplane), informed the student that Bonham was north of his position. The student flew north in search of Bonham, until the airplane ran out of fuel near Boswell, Oklahoma. Subsequently, the airplane was damaged during a forced landing in a rough/uneven field. ## Factual narrative On January 30, 1997, at 1730 central standard time, a Piper PA-38-112, N2493A, registered to and operated by Texas Flyers, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Boswell, Oklahoma. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. A flight plan was not filed for the solo cross country flight that originated at Rockwall, Texas at 1430. According to the Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) received from the pilot and the operator of the airplane, the student pilot was on a solo cross country flight from Rockwall, Texas, to Bonham, Texas, with an intermediate stop in Paris, Texas. During the flight from Rockwall to Paris, the student pilot could not locate his destination airport. After trying to find the airport for approximately 20 minutes, he continued on towards Bonham, which was approximately 37 nautical miles from Paris. The student became disoriented and attempted to contact both Fort Worth and McAlester Flight Service Stations without success. Other pilots in the area heard the student's calls and attempted to help. One pilot, who thought he saw the student's airplane, informed him that Bonham was to the north. The student flew north in search of Bonham, until the airplane ran out of fuel near Boswell, Oklahoma. During the forced landing to a rough field, the fuselage and empennage of the airplane were substantially damaged, and the engine separated from the airframe. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2493A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2493A-2013-07-30), registration cancelled 2013-07-30, S/N 38-78A0713, 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: 38-78A0713 - Airframe hours: 3395 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Texas Flyers Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 30, 1996, 49 hours before - Departed: F46, ROCKWALL, TX - Destination: F00, BONHAM, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 52 total, 52 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F ## 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 19970130000989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970130000989A), Jan 30, 1997: Piper PA38112, Boswell, OK, Substantial damage. (.4) According to the student pilot and the operator of the airplane, the student was on a solo cross country flight from rockwall, Texas, to bonham, Texas,… 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.