# NTSB LAX83LA072: Piper PA-38-112, N2422A, Barstow, CA, January 15, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 15, 1983, 15:02 local (23:02 UTC)
- Place: Barstow, CA
- Coordinates: 34.970138, -116.990463 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9701&lon=-116.9905&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23599
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23599/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA072

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight briefing service - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED IN AN OFF ARPT PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AFTER AN ENCOUNTER WITH WEATHER. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD LEFT ONTHE SECOND LEG OF A CROSS-COUNTRY FLT WITHOUT CHECKING THE WEATHER OVER THE REMAINING ROUTE. ENROUTE HE DECIDED THE WEATHER WAS BAD AND DIVERTED TO THE EAST. HE BECAME DISORIENTED AND WENT DOWN TO CIRCLE AT LOW ALT FOR CONFIRMATION OF LOCATION. NEAR BARSTOW CA THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE STARTED 'SPLURTING' SO HE DECIDED TO LAND. WITNESSES AT THE SITE SAID THE ACFT CIRCLED OVER A RACE TRACK WHERE AN OFF-ROAD VEHICLE COMPETITION WAS IN PROGRESS FOR 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO LANDING. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE WAS TESTED AND RAN NORMALLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2422A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-78A0678
- Airframe hours: 2197
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bud Walen Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 1982, 97 hours before
- Departed: L71, CALIFORNIA CITY, CA
- Destination: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 42 total, 42 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAG, 13 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 19830115002109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830115002109A), Jan 15, 1983: Piper PA38112, Barstow, CA, Substantial damage. Student pilot attempted precautionary landing because of supposed engine malfunction.

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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