# NTSB LAX89LA234: Piper PA-38-112, N23916, Hollister, CA, July 9, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 9, 1989, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Hollister, CA
- Coordinates: 36.889896, -121.240028 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8899&lon=-121.2400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 29, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26443
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA234
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26443/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA234

## Probable cause

FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREVENT THE AIRPLANE FROM STRIKING THE GROUND.

## Sequence of events

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

- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - planned approach - poor, dual student (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR INITIATED A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE AT 3500 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. THE STUDENT PERFORMED THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES BUT WHEN HE TURNED FINAL HE WAS TOO HIGH TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND INTENDED TO MAKE ANOTHER 360 DEGREE PRIOR TO LANDING. AS SOON AS THE AIRPLANE ENTERED THE BANK, IT STALLED. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER BY APPLYING FULL POWER BUT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT RETURN TO LEVEL FLIGHT PRIOR TO STRIKING THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23916](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23916-1990-06-18), registration cancelled 1990-06-18, S/N 3879A1065 (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: 38-79A1065
- Airframe hours: 2048
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Dunlap, Michael J
- Registered owner: Michael J Dunlap
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 1989, 7 hours before
- Departed: SQL, SAN CARLOS, CA
- Destination: HOLLISTER, CA
- Airport: Frazier Lake Airpark, runway 25, 2,500 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,100 total, 10 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 5 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °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 19890709020729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890709020729A), Jul 9, 1989: Piper PA38112, Hollister, CA, Substantial damage. Simulated forced landing over airport. Student too high CFI took over tried to make one more turn stalled crashed

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.