# NTSB LAX92LA004: Piper PA-28-140, N55394, Santa Rosa, CA, October 4, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 3, 1991, 17:02 local (Oct 4, 1991, 00:02 UTC)
- Place: Santa Rosa, CA
- Coordinates: 38.500839, -122.759719 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5008&lon=-122.7597&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27466
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27466/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA004

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING A RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - object - utility pole

## Analysis

GROUND WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS PERFORMING A SERIES OF TOUCH AND GO OPERATIONS.  THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON TOUCHDOWN AND BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO BEGIN A LOW LEVEL LEFT TURN AT ABOUT 20 FEET AGL AND IT COLLIDED WITH TWO LIGHT POLES ABOUT 150 YARDS FROM THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE.  FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE EXTENSIVELY BURNED AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE.  THEY REPORTED THAT THE CONTROL CABLES WERE PROPERLY ROUTED WITHIN THE STRUCTURE AND THAT THE FLAP ACTUATORS WERE FOUND IN THE UP POSITION.  NO AIRCRAFT OR SYSTEM ABNORMALITIES WERE FOUND DURING THE EXAMINATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55394](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55394-1997-12-08), registration cancelled 1997-12-08, S/N 287325392 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7325392
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Keehn, Timothy L.
- Registered owner: Keehn, Timothy L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Airport: 0O1, Santa Rosa, runway 16, 7,000 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19911004044639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911004044639A), Oct 4, 1991: Piper PA28140, Santa Rosa, CA, Destroyed. Made low level turn out after touch and go. Struck a light pole.

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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