# NTSB LAX89LA274: Piper PA-38-112, N2471D, Benson, AZ, August 13, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 13, 1989, 13:52 local (20:52 UTC)
- Place: Benson, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.19078, -110.38002 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1908&lon=-110.3800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26477
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA274
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26477/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA274

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING AN EMERGENCY DESCENT AND TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S ANXIOUSNESS IN OVER-REACTING TO A SITUATION AND PREMATURELY ENTERING A POWER-OFF FORCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, cruise
  - anxiety/apprehension, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT REPORTED SMELLING AND SEEING SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT AREA, COMING FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD. THE SMOKE LASTED FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS. THE PILOT DECIDED TO TURN OFF THE THROTTLE, MIXTURE, AND FUEL AND EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING. HE ALSO REPORTED HEARING THE STALL WARNING INDICATOR 2-3 TIMES DURING HIS EMERGENCY DESCENT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON A DIRT ROAD. THE OPERATOR INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2471D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2471D-1990-07-16), registration cancelled 1990-07-16, S/N 3879A0326 (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: 38-79A0326
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-12C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Jerry W. Wood
- Departed: TUS, TUCSON, AZ
- Destination: LRU, LOS CRUCES, NM
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 55 total, 30 in this make and model, 18 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 102 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Observed at: TUS, 33 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 19890813028839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890813028839A), Aug 13, 1989: Piper PA38112, Benson, AZ, Destroyed. Saw brief smoke from under dash en route. Turned everything off and crash landed after smoke had ceased.

## Other investigations on N2471D (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW80FQD16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FQD16), Sep 20, 1980: Piper PA-38 (N2471D), El Paso, TX, substantial damage

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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