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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

June 15, 1992 · Piper PA-38-112 · N2516D

Boulder City, NV

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 15, 1992
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Boulder City, NV
Aircraft
Piper PA-38-112
Tail Number
N2516D
Operator
Desert Southwest Airlines
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX92FA247

A Piper PA-38-112 collided with an unmarked power transmission line static cable during the takeoff climb after executing a touch and go maneuver. The airplane was at a constant airspeed and low altitude above the upsloping terrain located north of the airport. The airplane then struck the static cable with its right wing as it entered a right turn. The 20:1 approach clear zone plane ratio for the departure end of the runway is obstructed by an approximate four foot high dirt berm. Rising terrain continues north of the airport but does not obstruct the 20:1 clearance ratio. Power transmission lines cross Runway 33's extended centerline on a northwesterly heading about 3,800 feet from the runway end. Support towers for the power transmission line cables are about 60 feet above ground level, but did not extend into the 20:1 clearance ratio. The power transmission lines are depicted on the sectional aeronautical chart. The airplane's flaps were found to be fully extended. The Piper information manual does not prescribe the use of full flaps for any takeoff maneuvers.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO INSURE THE PROPER FLAP SETTING FOR TAKEOFF WHICH RESULTED IN THE PROPER CLIMB RATE NOT BEING ATTAINED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS RISING TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

A PIPER PA-38-112 COLLIDED WITH AN UNMARKED POWER TRANSMISSION LINE STATIC CABLE DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB AFTER EXECUTING A TOUCH AND GO MANEUVER. THE AIRPLANE WAS AT A CONSTANT AIRSPEED AND LOW ALTITUDE ABOVE THE UPSLOPING TERRAIN LOCATED NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE THEN STRUCK THE STATIC CABLE WITH ITS RIGHT WING AS IT ENTERED A RIGHT TURN. THE 20:1 APPROACH CLEAR ZONE PLANE RATIO FOR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY IS OBSTRUCTED BY AN APPROXIMATE FOUR FOOT HIGH DIRT BERM. RISING TERRAIN CONTINUES NORTH OF THE AIRPORT BUT DOES NOT OBSTRUCT THE 20:1 CLEARANCE RATIO. POWER TRANSMISSION LINES CROSS RUNWAY 33'S EXTENDED CENTERLINE ON A NORTHWESTERLY HEADING ABOUT 3,800 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY END. SUPPORT TOWERS FOR THE POWER TRANSMISSION LINE CABLES ARE ABOUT 60 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, BUT DID NOT EXTEND INTO THE 20:1 CLEARANCE RATIO. THE POWER TRANSMISSION LINES ARE DEPICTED ON THE SECTIONAL AERONAUTICAL CHART. THE AIRPLANE'S FLAPS WERE FOUND TO BE FULLY EXTENDED. THE PIPER INFORMATION MANUAL DOES NOT PRESCRIBE THE USE OF FULL FLAPS FOR ANY TAKEOFF MANEUVERS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:08 PDT
Nearest AirportBoulder City (1nm NNW)
Runway33
Runway Length3850 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-38-112
Tail NumberN2516D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDesert Southwest Airlines
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 112
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 28 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data