# NTSB NYC85LA071: Piper PA-38-112, N2317N, Beaver Falls, PA, February 21, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 21, 1985, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Beaver Falls, PA
- Location: 40.7594° N, 80.3226° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Beaver Falls, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7594&lon=-80.3226&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35833
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85LA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35833/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA071

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - touch-and-go - initiated, dual student
  - flare - improper, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - go-around - attempted
  - directional control - not maintained (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) & STUDENT PLT WERE PRACTICING TOUCH-&-GO LANDINGS. DURING AN APCH, THE STUDENT ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO GET SLOW. AFTER CORRECTING THE SITUATION, HE ALLOWED THE SPEED TO GET SLOW AGAIN & FLARED HIGH. THE ACFT BEGAN TO DROP & A GO-AROUND WAS INITIATED, BUT TOO LATE TO AVOID HITTING THE RWY. THE ACFT THEN SKIDDED TO THE RIGHT & HIT A SNOWBANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2317N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2317N-1991-03-26), registration cancelled 1991-03-26, S/N 3879A0785 (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: 3879A0785
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Beaver Aviation Service, Inc.
- Airport: New Castle Muni, runway 23, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: right; flight hours: 709 total, 280 in this make and model, 521 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft unknown
- Temperature: 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19850221004129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850221004129A), Feb 21, 1985: Piper PA38112, New Castle, PA, Substantial damage. (.4)The instructor (CFI) & student plt were practicing touch-&-go landings. During an apch, the student allowed the airspeed to get slow. After correcting the…

## Other investigations on N2317N (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 NYC88FA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88FA158), Jun 7, 1988: Piper PA-38-112 (N2317N), Enon Valley, PA, destroyed, 2 fatal

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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