# NTSB LAX86LA285: Piper PA-38, N91360, Lincoln, CA, July 4, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 4, 1986, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Lincoln, CA
- Coordinates: 38.929462, -121.249244 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9295&lon=-121.2492&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): 25208
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA285
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25208/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA285

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT INDICATED THAT THIS WAS HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. HE HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 6.8 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT AND HE HAD FLOWN EARLIER IN THE DAY WITH HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. AFTER TWO LANDINGS WITH THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT ON THE SECOND SOLO TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ON TOUCHDOWN AND BEGAN TO PORPOISE. THE NOSE GEAR THEN COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST PARTIALLY OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91360](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91360-1994-09-06), registration cancelled 1994-09-06, S/N 3882A0015 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-82A0015
- Airframe hours: 1495
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mccellan Afb Aero Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 14, 1986, 37 hours before
- Departed: 051, LINCOLN, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 051, Lincoln Muni, runway 15, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7 total, 7 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MYV, 16 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 19860704030769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860704030769A), Jul 4, 1986: Piper PA38112, Lincoln, CA, Substantial damage. Student on initial solo bounced the aircraft on landing and collapsed the nose gear.

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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