# NTSB MKC89LA171: Piper PA-38-112, N4278E, Liberty, MO, July 29, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 29, 1989, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Liberty, MO
- Coordinates: 39.239974, -94.410491 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2400&lon=-94.4105&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34840
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89LA171
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34840/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA171

## Probable cause

CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY THE DUAL STUDENT AS THE INSTRUCTOR TRIED TO RECOVER FROM THE STUDENT'S BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT.  CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: IMPROPER FLARE BY THE STUDENT, THE CROSSWIND, THE STUDENT'S APPREHENSION DURING THE BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE CROP BESIDE THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, dual student (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - recovery from bounced landing - attempted, pilot in command(cfi)
  - control interference - performed, dual student (cause)
  - anxiety/apprehension, dual student (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained (cause)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT & INSTRUCTOR (CFI) ELECTED TO VISIT AN ARPT WITH A NARROW RWY WHERE SMALL ACFT WERE BUILT & FLOWN. THE 1ST APCH WAS NOT TO THE CFI'S SATISFACTION, SO A GO-AROUND WAS MADE. THE 2ND APCH WAS GOOD, BUT DRG THE LNDG, THE STUDENT 'FROZE' AT THE CONTROLS & THE CFI WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE STUDENT'S GRASP. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT BOUNCED, THEN IT WENT INTO A BORDERING CORN FIELD & WAS DAMAGED. THE CFI SAID HE REPEATEDLY TOLD THE STUDENT TO 'LET GO,' BUT THE STUDENT CONTINUED TO STAY ON THE CONTROLS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4278E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4278E-1994-08-24), registration cancelled 1994-08-24, S/N 3878A0525 (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: 38-78A0525
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Liberty Flight Center
- Registered owner: Duckworth, Edward
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed: MO10, LIBERTY, MO
- Destination: 4MO4
- Airport: 4MO4, Liberty Landing, runway 22, 1,850 × 36 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,836 total, 200 in this make and model, 1,807 as pilot in command, 344 in the last 90 days, 134 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 30,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCI, 20 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 19890729025719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890729025719A), Jul 29, 1989: Piper PA38112, Liberty, MO, Substantial damage. Student bounced the Landing then froze on controls. Aircraft veered off runway into a stand of tall corn.

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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