# NTSB SEA98LA043: Piper PA-38-112, N2438L, Dubois, ID, March 11, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 11, 1998, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Dubois, ID - Coordinates: 44.219963, -112.370948 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2200&lon=-112.3709&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 10, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42761 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42761/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA043 ## 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. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, go-around (vfr) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - overload (cause) ## Analysis The student pilot had reviewed the intended route of flight, including the Dubois airport, previous to departing Rexburg on his cross country solo. After landing first at Pocatello, and then Arco, he proceeded to Dubois where he found the airport and its single runway (16/34) snow covered. The Airport/Facility Directory effective at the time of the accident advised the reader that 'no winter maintenance' was available and the informational diagram of the Dubois airport (which was Xeroxed on the back side of the student's flight planner log for the accident trip) advised that the 'airport is closed from November to April because of snow.' The student 'decided to do a fly-by (as a missed landing) about 20'-15' above the runway' and reported that when he 'got to the transition point (he) applied full power and pulled the yoke back. Almost instantly, as the plane rotated, (he) felt drag as a wheel caught in the snow.' As the aircraft decelerated, rolling through the snow, the nose gear collapsed. ## Factual narrative On March 11, 1998, approximately 1330 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-38-112, N2438L, registered to Aero Technicians, Inc., and being flown by a student pilot on a supervised solo flight, dragged the left main wheel in snow during a go-around on runway 16 at the Dubois Municipal Airport, Dubois, Idaho. The aircraft then decelerated, settling to the snow-covered runway surface, during which the nose landing gear collapsed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Rexburg, Idaho, approximately 1050, on the morning of the accident. The student pilot, after landing first at Pocatello, then Arco, proceeded to Dubois where he found the airport snow covered. He then "decided to do a fly-by (as a missed landing) about 20'-15' above the runway." He further reported that "I thought I could see the approach lights. (Later I figured out it was sun reflection)," and that when "I got to the transition point I applied full power and pulled the yoke back. Almost instantly, as the plane rotated, I felt drag as a wheel caught in the snow." The Dubois Municipal airport is served by a 4,600 foot long unlighted, turf runway. The Airport/Facility Directory effective at the time of the accident advised the reader that "no winter maintenance" was available at the airport (refer to ATTACHMENT I). Additionally, an informational diagram of the Dubois airport, which was Xeroxed on the back side of the student's flight planner log for the accident trip advised that the "airport is closed from November to April because of snow" (refer to attached Airport Chart). The student pilot reported to the investigator-in-charge that he had reviewed the intended route of flight, including the Dubois airport, with his flight instructor approximately one week before the mishap. He also reported that there was no malfunction of the aircraft, its systems or powerplant during the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2438L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2438L), registered now, S/N 38-79A0703, built 1979 (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) - 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: 5262 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Perham, John, J. - Registered owner: Aero Technicians, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 13, 1998, 45 hours before - Departed: U11, REXBURG, ID - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: U41, Dubois Municipal, runway 16, 4,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 24 total, 24 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: U11, 27 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 19980311006769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980311006769A), Mar 11, 1998: Piper PA38112, Dubois, ID, Substantial damage. Dragged unplowed runway to determine snow depth. Dipped wheel into snow on go around. Folded gear. 12 inch snow. (.4)the student pilot had reviewed the… ## 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 SEA93LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA077), Mar 12, 1993: Piper PA-38 (N2438L), Burley, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: LANDING ON THE WRONG RUNWAY AND AN IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN. LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION WAS A FACTOR. 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.