# NTSB NYC81FNA14: Piper PA-38, N9953T, New Bedford, MA, March 31, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 31, 1981
- Place: New Bedford, MA · NEW BEDFORD, MA
- Location: 41.6613° N, 70.9379° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of New Bedford, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6613&lon=-70.9379&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 10, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127085
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC81FNA14
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FNA14

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0910  81/3/31    NEW BEDFORD,MA      PIPER PA-38         CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 36, 48 TOTAL
        TIME - 1040                    N9953T              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - NEW BEDFORD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FARMINGDALE,NY              NEW BEDFORD,MA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER LEVEL OFF
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM BOUNCED LANDING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     HEAD WIND 338-022 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           67                                                      300
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           15                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- WND GSTG 25KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9953T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9953T-1997-07-17), registration cancelled 1997-07-17, S/N 3878A0259 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: New Bedford

## 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 19810331016449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810331016449A), Mar 31, 1981: Piper PA38112, New Bedford, MA, Substantial damage. Student pilot lost control of aircraft during landing in gusty 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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