# NTSB LAX02LA186: Piper PA-38-112, N49672, Henderson, NV, June 7, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 7, 2002, 07:18 local (14:18 UTC) - Place: Henderson, NV - Coordinates: 35.976387, -115.132774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9764&lon=-115.1328&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54897 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54897/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54897 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA186 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and the instructor's inadequate supervision. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, dual student (cause) ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38-112 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-78A0045 - Airframe hours: 4914.2 - Engines: 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 As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 55; injuries: none; 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 - Student pilot; age 42; injuries: minor; 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 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54897. 331 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 331 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443772&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.