# NTSB LAX88LA271: Piper PA-38-112, N91352, Healdsburg, CA, July 29, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 29, 1988, 09:55 local (16:55 UTC)
- Place: Healdsburg, CA
- Coordinates: 38.629932, -122.889472 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6299&lon=-122.8895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26070
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88LA271
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26070/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA271

## Probable cause

SOLO STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ABOVE THE STALL SPEED DURING THE GO AROUND ATTEMPT, THEREBY LOSING CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND STALLING AND MUSHING UNTIL COLLIDING WITH A TREE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - go-around - attempted
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE STUDENT WAS ON HER THIRD SUPERVISED SOLO AND HAD COMPLETED TWO TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. SHE STATED THAT ON HER LAST APPROACH, WHICH WAS TO BE A FULL STOP, THE ACFT WAS LOW AND SLOW, SO SHE DECIDED TO MAKE A GO-AROUND. SHE APPLIED FULL POWER AND RAISED THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE. HOWEVER, THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND THE AIRCRAFT MUSHED INTO A TREE & CRASHED IN A VINEYARD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91352](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91352-1991-06-18), registration cancelled 1991-06-18, S/N 3882A0019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-82A019
- Airframe hours: 3629
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Redwood Aviation
- Registered owner: Karl & Elaine Oehlman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 22, 1988, 17 hours before
- Airport: 031, Healdsburg Muni, runway 13, 2,707 × 45 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 25 total, 25 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19880729028599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880729028599A), Jul 29, 1988: Piper PA38112, Healdsburg, CA, Substantial damage. Student on third solo stalled aircraft into trees on a attempted go around.

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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