# NTSB LAX02LA170: Piper PA-38-112, N4326E, Kingman, AZ, May 28, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 2002, 17:00 local (May 28, 2002, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Kingman, AZ - Coordinates: 35.259445, -113.938056 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2594&lon=-113.9381&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54746 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54746/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54746 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA170 ## Probable cause the CFI's failure to obtain/maintain an adequate airspeed during an attempted go-around, which resulted in a stall/mush condition. The high density altitude, tailwind, inadequate supervision, and overgross weight condition were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - airspeed - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command(cfi) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane settled into the ground during a go-around from a simulated emergency landing. The certified flight instructor (CFI) was teaching the student an abbreviated approach to landing where the turn from base to final is rounded instead of the traditional square pattern. The CFI said that about 150 feet agl as they were tuning to final he observed they were overshooting the centerline of the runway, and had an excessive sink rate. The CFI took control of the airplane and applied full power; however, the descent continued. The airplane "dropped out of the sky, and pancaked onto the ground" next to the runway. The airplane weight was 180 pounds over gross at takeoff, and about 92 pounds over gross at the time of the accident. The density altitude was approximately 5,300 feet. The airplane landed in an easterly direction; winds at the time of the accident were from the south-southwest at 20 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2002, about 1700 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-38-112, N4326E, settled into the ground during a go-around from a simulated forced landing near a private airstrip about 10 miles northwest of the Kingman Airport (IGM), Kingman, Arizona. The student pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed IGM about 1500, and was scheduled to terminate at IGM. The pilots submitted written statements. The CFI stated that they were practicing engine out emergency landings. He was teaching the student an abbreviated approach to landing where the turn from base to final is rounded instead of the traditional square pattern. The CFI said that about 150 feet agl as they were tuning to final he observed that they were overshooting the centerline of the runway, and had an excessive sink rate. The CFI took the flight controls from the student and applied full power, but that did not arrest the descent. The airplane "dropped out of the sky and pancaked on the ground" next to the runway. The student confirmed the event and added that the airspeed used was the POH specified approach airspeed (65 knots). He was flying the airplane during the descent and initial turn onto final. On final the CFI took the controls from him and added power, but they weren't able to recover from the descent. Both pilots stated that when they applied power the engine power "came up right away" with no problem. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator interviewed the pilots. They stated that during the simulated engine failure over a private, dirt strip the CFI told the student pilot to slip as if he had an onboard fire. The airplane was in a bank and turning from base to final when the CFI took control of the airplane. The FAA accident coordinator also calculated performance data for the accident flight, referencing the airplane's POH recovered at the scene. She calculated that the airplane weight was 180 pounds over gross at takeoff, and 92 pounds over gross at the time of the accident. She calculated a density altitude of 5,300 feet. A wreckage distribution diagram drawn by the FAA accident coordinator showed the airplane landing to the east coming to rest in a westerly heading. The CFI said that the winds were from the south-southwest at 20 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4326E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4326E-2013-10-30), registration cancelled 2013-10-30, S/N 38-78A0552, 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: 38-78A0552 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dave Amspoker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2001, 31 hours before - Departed: IGM, KINGMAN, AZ - Airport: IGM, Kingman ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 54; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 3,200 total, 50 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 16 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: IGM, 10 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020527011419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020527011419A), May 27, 2002: Piper PA38112, Kingman, AZ, No damage. (-23) On may 27, 2002 at approximately 1500 local time, N4326E (Piper PA-38-112) departed from Kingman airport (igm) on a training mission. At approximately… ## Other investigations on N4326E (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX80FVW10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FVW10), Feb 7, 1980: Piper PA-38 (N4326E), Hendson, NV, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54746. 891 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 648 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440094&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Wreckage Diagrams (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40208259&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Diagrams-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40208260&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies - FAA On-Scene Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440095&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%20-%20FAA%20On-Scene%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF 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.