LAX02LA186

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-38-112 · Henderson, NV · June 7, 2002

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 7, 2002, 07:18 local (14:18 UTC)
Place
Henderson, NV
Injuries
1 minor, 1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N49672Piper PA-38-112
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 25, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
Case key
54897

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 student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and the instructor's inadequate supervision.

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.

Loss of control - in flightLanding - flare/touchdown
In-flight planning/decision - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)Cause
Porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertentDual studentCause

Analysis

The airplane had a bounced landing, and on the go-around it contacted the ground two more times before coming to rest on the left side of the runway. The airplane was in the landing pattern practicing touch-and-go landings. On the third approach to landing, the student flared too high; the airplane contacted the ground hard and bounced. The CFI instructed the student to go around by applying full power and reducing the flaps to the first notch. The student applied full power, and raised the flaps to the full up position. The CFI then lowered the nose to gain airspeed, but the airplane contacted the ground again. The right wing dug into dirt and rocks in the uneven terrain beside the runway. The wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage.

Factual narrative

On June 7, 2002, at 0718 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N49672, veered off the runway during a touch-and-go landing at Henderson (L15), Nevada. DSA, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) pilot was not injured, and the student pilot sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight departed about 0700. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The CFI reported that the airplane was in the landing pattern practicing touch-and-go landings. On the third approach to landing, the student flared too high; the airplane contacted the ground hard and bounced. The CFI instructed the student to go around by applying full power and reducing the flaps to the first notch. The student applied full power, and raised the flaps to the full up position. The CFI then lowered the nose to gain airspeed. The airplane contacted the ground two more times before coming to rest on the left side of the runway. The right wing dug into dirt and rocks in the uneven terrain beside the runway. The wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage.

Aircraft

Registration
N49672
Reported as
Piper PA-38-112
Category
Airplane
Serial number
38-78A0045
Airframe hours
4,914.2
Engine
Lycoming O-235 L2C(M), 125 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Dsa, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 1, 2002 · 69 hours before
Departed
L15 · Henderson, NV
Airport
HND · Henderson, runway 180, 5,000 × 60 ft, asphalt

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
55
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
February 1, 2002
Seat
Right
Flight hours
757 total · 7 in this make and model · 733 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Role
Student pilot
Age
42
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
86 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
29.70 inHg
Observed at
LAS

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 331 KB in all.