# NTSB LAX94LA329: Piper PA-38-112, N2436N, Oakdale, CA, August 20, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 19, 1994, 18:45 local (Aug 20, 1994, 01:45 UTC)
- Place: Oakdale, CA
- Coordinates: 37.799999, -120.739173 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8000&lon=-120.7392&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28834
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA329
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28834/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA329

## Probable cause

1) THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT ON THE RUNWAY, 2) HIS FAILURE TO INITIATE A TIMELY GO AROUND, AND 3) HIS INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - weather condition - tailwind
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR INTENTIONALLY ENTERED THE PATTERN FOR A DOWNWIND LANDING TO SIMULATE A POWER OFF FORCED LANDING DOWNWIND ON THE 3,000-FOOT-LONG RUNWAY. WHILE ON DOWNWIND, THE INSTRUCTOR SIMULATED THE POWER LOSS BY EITHER PULLING THE MIXTURE CONTROL TO IDLE CUT OFF OR REDUCING THE THROTTLE. THE STUDENT SAID THE AIRCRAFT LANDED VERY LONG ON THE RUNWAY AND THE INSTRUCTOR ADDED POWER TO TAKEOFF AGAIN WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINED TO STOP ON THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A CANAL DITCH EMBANKMENT.

## Factual narrative

On August 19, 1994, at 1845 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA38- 112, N2436N, collided with ground obstructions during a landing overrun at the Oakdale, California, airport.  The aircraft was owned and operated by Diamond K Aviation of Oakdale and was on a local area instructional flight.  The aircraft incurred substantial damage.  The certificated airline transport pilot flight instructor and his dual primary student sustained serious injuries.  The flight originated at the Oakdale airport about 1800 hours on the day of the accident as a local area flight.

In a verbal statement to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, the student reported that the flight instructor intentionally entered the pattern for a downwind landing on runway 10 to simulate a power off forced landing downwind on the 3,000-foot-long runway.  While on downwind, the instructor simulated the power loss by either pulling the mixture control to idle cut off or reducing the throttle.  The student said the aircraft landed very long on the runway and the instructor added power to takeoff again when it became apparent that insufficient runway remained to stop on the ground.  The aircraft ran off the departure end of the runway and collided with a canal ditch embankment.  The winds were from 270 degrees at 10 gusting to 15 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2436N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2436N-1995-05-04), registration cancelled 1995-05-04, S/N 3879A0841 (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: 38-7900841
- Airframe hours: 4580
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Diamond K Aviation
- Registered owner: Diamond K Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 1994, 20 hours before
- Departed: O27
- Destination: O27
- Airport: O27, Oakdale, runway 10, 3,020 × 66 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °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 19940819022289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940819022289A), Aug 19, 1994: Piper PA38112, Oakdale, CA, Substantial damage. Made demo of engine out landing to downwind runway. Landed long and fast. Delayed go around. Ran off end runway.

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.