- Date
- March 29, 1997, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place
- Stillwater, OK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N194BAPiper PA-38-112
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970329039779A
- Case key
- 20193
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 inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground swerve and collapse of the nose gear. The crosswind was a related factor.
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 the landing roll on runway 17 with a left crosswind, the airplane traveled approximately 500 feet, then veered left. The student pilot stated that he applied right rudder; however, the airplane continued to veer left, entering a skid. The nose landing gear separated, and the airplane exited the left side of the runway, then skidded approximately 30 feet on grass before coming to a full stop. The left crosswind component was calculated to be 9 to 10 knots. The Pilot's Operating Handbook listed the airplane's maximum demonstrated crosswind component as 15 knots.
Factual narrative
On March 29, 1997, at 0945 central standard time, a Piper PA-38-112 airplane, N194BA, registered to and operated by Business Air Corporate Aviation Limited of Bethany, Oklahoma, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing roll at Stillwater Municipal Airport, Stillwater, Oklahoma. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional solo cross country flight. The flight departed from Wiley Post Airport, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at 0905.
In a written statement, the student pilot, who was receiving flight training under Title 14 CFR Part 61, reported that upon reaching Stillwater Municipal Airport, he entered a left pattern for runway 17. He further reported that after turning final, he extended the flaps at 70 knots indicated airspeed and then landed. The student pilot stated that the airplane traveled about 500 feet, then "violently" veered to the left. He further stated that he applied right rudder; however, the airplane continued to veer left, entering a skid. Subsequently, the "nose wheel gave way," and the airplane exited the left side of the runway and skidded approximately 30 feet on grass before coming to a full stop.
According to the FAA inspector, the nose landing gear separated and contacted the left wing. The inspector reported that the left wing sustained structural damage.
The winds reported by the National Weather Service at Stillwater at 0953 were from 100 degrees at 11 knots. The student pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 110 degrees at 11 knots. Using these wind conditions, a left crosswind component of 9 to 10 knots was calculated for the landing on runway 17. Review of the PA-38 Pilot's Operating Handbook revealed a maximum demonstrated crosswind component of 15 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N194BA
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38-112
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 38-82A0063
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Business Air Corporate Aviatio
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- PWA · Oklahoma City, OK
- Destination
- SWO
- Airport
- SWO · Stillwater Municipal, runway 17, 6,002 × 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
- 37
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 45 total · 45 in this make and model · 17 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 43 °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.