# NTSB LAX83LA139: Piper PA-38-112, N23415, Fresno, CA, March 12, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 12, 1983, 15:59 local (23:59 UTC)
- Place: Fresno, CA
- Coordinates: 36.749023, -119.670074 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7490&lon=-119.6701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23642
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA139
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23642/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA139

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - wind information - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - raising of flaps - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose down, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT MADE A HARD LANDING AS A STUDENT PILOT WAS MAKING HIS SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO LANDING. THE ACFT HAD BEEN CLEAREDFOR A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL IN A CROSS WIND CONDITION. HE ATTEMPTED ALIGNMENT OF THE ACFT USING RIGHT AILERON AND RIGHT RUDDER. AFTER A HARD LANDING AND A HIGH BOUNCE THE ACFT APPROACHED A STALL. THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE OF THE ACFT AND RETRACTED THE FLAPS. THE WIND WAS 40 DEGREES OFF THE RIGHT OF THE ACFT NOSE AT 9 KTS IN A LOCAL OBSERVATION MADE AT 1601. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT 1559. ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR THE WIND HAD INCREASED FOLLOWING A DUAL FLT. WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR MADE THIS OBSERVATION IT WAS TOO LATE TO CONTACT THE STUDENT. THE STUDENT HAD DEPARTED AT 1553.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N23415 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-81-A0099
- Airframe hours: 745
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-K2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Western Piper Sales
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, February 5, 1983
- Airport: FAT, Fresno, runway 29, 3,900 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 24 total, 24 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FAT

## 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 19830312007519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830312007519A), Mar 12, 1983: Piper PA38112, Fresno, CA, Substantial damage. Made hard crab angle landing on second solo flight. Rainshowers in area. Wind increased. Poor CFI supervision.

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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