# NTSB LAX82FUG10: Piper PA-38-112, N25660, El Monte, CA, April 20, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: April 20, 1982, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: El Monte, CA
- Location: 34.0860° N, 118.0348° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SAN GABRIEL VALLEY (EMT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0860&lon=-118.0348&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 20, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70564
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FUG10
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70564/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FUG10

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - level off - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ON HIS FIRST APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE PILOT DECIDED THAT HE WAS TOO HIGH AND MADE A GO-AROUND. HE REPORTED THAT HIS SECOND APPROACH WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 5 FT AGL AT THE RUNWAY NUMBERS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE LEFT WING LIFTED AS IF THERE WAS A GUST OF WIND FROM THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT WING TIP TOUCHED THE GROUND. HE STATED THAT HE ADDED POWER TO CORRECT FOR A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AND LOWERED THE NOSE TO GAIN SPEED. BUT REPORTEDLY, THE RIGHT MAIN AND NOSE WHEELS STRUCK THE GROUND AND RUDDER CONTROL WAS LOST. HE THEN CUT THE POWER AND LANDED AS STRAIGHT AS POSSIBLE. THE PILOT PR0VIDED NO SPECIFIC WIND INFORMATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N25660 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-81-A-0042
- Airframe hours: 321
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Piper Air Center
- Registered owner: Piper Air Center
- Departed: LGB, LONG BEACH, CA
- Destination: PLYMOUTH, NH
- Airport: EMT, El Monte, runway 19, 11,000 × 0 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 230 total, 14 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Temperature: 172 °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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820420011119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820420011119A), Apr 20, 1982: Piper PA38112, El Monte, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot allowed right wing to contract runway during landing pilot claimes wind lifted left wing. No wind info report

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.

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