# NTSB SEA93LA077: Piper PA-38, N2438L, Burley, ID, March 12, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 12, 1993, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Burley, ID
- Coordinates: 42.389919, -113.780502 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3899&lon=-113.7805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42998
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42998/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA077

## Probable cause

LANDING ON THE WRONG RUNWAY AND AN IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN. LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION WAS A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - touchdown - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT, WHO WAS ON HER FIRST SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, BECAME CONFUSED ABOUT RUNWAY IDENTIFICATION NOMENCLATURE, AND LANDED ON RUNWAY 20 INSTEAD OF RUNWAY 02. IN HER ATTEMPT TO LAND WITH A 18 TO 20 KNOT TAILWIND, THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON THE NOSE WHEEL, AND THE NOSE WHEEL BROKE OFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2438L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2438L), registered now, S/N 38-79A0703, built 1979 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-79A0703
- Airframe hours: 4142
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Aero Technicians Inc.
- Registered owner: Aero Technicians Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 20, 1992, 35 hours before
- Departed: PIH, POCATELLO, ID
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: BYI, Burley Municipal Airport, runway 20, 4,100 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 17.8 in the last 90 days, 2.5 in the last 30 days, 1.1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 18 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BYI, 1 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 19930312005059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930312005059A), Mar 12, 1993: Piper PA38112, Burley, ID, Substantial damage. Confused on runway 02 and 20. Landed in gusty tailwind,nose first,collapsing the nose gear high wind a factor.

## Other investigations on N2438L (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 SEA98LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA043), Mar 11, 1998: Piper PA-38-112 (N2438L), Dubois, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's misjudgment of altitude/clearance and overloading of the nose gear. A contributing factor was the snow-covered turf 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.

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