# NTSB LAX96LA331: Piper PA-28R-200, N41331, Oxnard, CA, September 7, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 7, 1996, 13:41 local (20:41 UTC) - Place: Oxnard, CA - Coordinates: 34.229595, -119.070831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2296&lon=-119.0708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29558 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA331 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29558/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA331 ## Probable cause the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight, and his delay in taking the controls and initiating a go-around. The student pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment and the proximity of the runway remaining marker were related factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - proper alignment - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - object - airport sign/marker (contributing factor) ## Analysis During an approach to land, the student was performing a no flap slip, when the flight instructor (CFI) noticed the airplane was aligned with the edge of the runway, with low airspeed and a high rate of sink. When a collision with a runway remaining marker appeared imminent, the CFI took the controls and initiated a go-around. During the go-around, they felt a bump that they thought to be a hard landing. As they continued the go-around, the Oxnard tower controller advised the pilots that the airplane had collided with the runway marker. The pilots returned to the Camarillo airport, where they landed without further incident. An inspection revealed damage to the right wing. The runway remaining marker was also damaged. ## Factual narrative On September 7, 1996, at 1341 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N41331, collided with a runway marker while on a go-around at Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; however, neither the flight instructor nor his private pilot student was injured. The aircraft was being operated as an instructional flight by Sun-Air Aviation when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Camarillo about 1215. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The operator reported that the instructor and the student were performing touch-and-go landings at the Oxnard Airport. On the eighth touch-and-go approach, the student was high, so the instructor asked him to slip the aircraft for a no flap landing. The student performed the slip with full control deflection; however, the instructor noticed that as he crossed the runway threshold, he was aligned with the right edge of the runway. At the same time, he also noticed the student was allowing the airspeed to decay, and his rate of sink to continue unabated. The instructor took the controls when a collision with a runway marker appeared imminent, and was in the process of a go-around when they both felt a bump that they thought was a hard landing. The Oxnard tower then advised the instructor of the collision. The aircraft did not display any adverse flight characteristics so they returned to the Camarillo airport where they landed without further incident. A postaccident inspection revealed damage to the right wing main spar and four ribs. A 10-inch-wide gash was observed in the lower surface of the wing, as well as skin wrinkling in the surrounding area. The Oxnard airport manager reported that the 4,000-foot runway remaining marker had been struck by an aircraft. The runway is 5,950 feet long and 100 feet wide. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41331](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41331), registered now, S/N 28R-7435169, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7435169 - Airframe hours: 5479 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Henry Gantner, doing business as Sun-Air Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: Thomas Charles Scott - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 15, 1996, 54 hours before - Departed: OXR - Destination: CMA, CAMARILLO, CA - Airport: OXR, Oxnard, runway 25, 5,950 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 972 total, 179 in this make and model, 877 as pilot in command, 195 in the last 90 days, 104 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 11 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: OXR ## 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 19960907026739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960907026739A), Sep 7, 1996: Piper PA28R200, Oxnard, CA, Substantial damage. High on final student slipped ofr no flap landing. CFI began go around but hit a marker. Bent wing spar and skin. ## Other investigations on N41331 (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 NYC75FHD43](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC75FHD43), May 7, 1975: Piper PA-28R (N41331), Lindenwold, NJ, destroyed 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.