# NTSB LAX90LA005: Piper PA-38-112, N2515T, Paso Robles, CA, October 7, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 7, 1989, 14:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place: Paso Robles, CA
- Location: 35.6729° N, 120.6271° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PASO ROBLES MUNI (PRB), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6729&lon=-120.6271&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26666
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26666/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA005

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSS WIND CONDITION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - wind information - not understood, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft

## Analysis

THE 44-HR STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO OBSERVE & UNDERSTAND THAT THE UNCONTROLLED ARPT'S 3 WINDSOCKS & WIND TEE WERE INDICATING THAT RWY 13 WAS FAVORABLE FOR LANDING. THE PILOT LANDED ON RWY 31, EXPERIENCED A RT QUARTERING TAILWIND, DRIFTED OFF THE LT SIDE OF THE RWY & NOSED OVER IN A PLOWED FIELD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2515T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2515T-1992-03-30), registration cancelled 1992-03-30, S/N 3878A0820 (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: 38-78A0820
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: C&K Aviation Inc., doing business as California Aviation
- Registered owner: C&K Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: SZP, SANTA PAULA, CA
- Destination: PRB, PASO ROBLES, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: PRB, Paso Robles, runway 31, 4,700 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 44 total, 44 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PRB

## 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 19891007039319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891007039319A), Oct 7, 1989: Piper PA38112, Paso Robles, CA, Substantial damage. Floated and drifted off runway on crosswind landing. Nosed over off runway. Had quartering tail wind.

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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