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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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December 3, 1988 · Piper PA-38-112 · N2379V

Tomball, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 3, 1988
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Tomball, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-38-112
Tail Number
N2379V
Operator
Travel Air
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW89FA028

THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING USED FOR TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS BY AN INSTRUCTOR AND A LOW TIME STUDENT. IT WAS ON A BASE LEG TO LAND TO THE SOUTH WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR TOLD THE TOWER SHE HAD LOST THE ENGINE AND WAS GOING DOWN. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE STUDENT SURVIVED BUT DID NOT REMEMBER THE FLIGHT. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE OR FUEL SYSTEM WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ENGINE FROM PRODUCING ENOUGH POWER TO PREVENT A FORCED LANDING. THE PROPELLER CAME OFF THE CRANKSHAFT AT IMPACT. MARKS ON THE SIX PROPELLER FLANGE BUSHING INDICATED THE PROPELLER HAD BEEN LOOSE FOR AN UNDETERMINED LENGTH OF TIME. THE FLANGE BUSHING HAD BEEN OVERSTRESSED AND THE FLANGED ENDS SEPARATED FROM THE BUSHINGS. THE BUSHINGS CAME OUT OF THE CRANKSHAFT AT IMPACT. THE FIELD WHERE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST WAS SURROUNDED BY TREES.

Full Narrative

THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING USED FOR TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS BY AN INSTRUCTOR AND A LOW TIME STUDENT. IT WAS ON A BASE LEG TO LAND TO THE SOUTH WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR TOLD THE TOWER SHE HAD LOST THE ENGINE AND WAS GOING DOWN. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE STUDENT SURVIVED BUT DID NOT REMEMBER THE FLIGHT. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE OR FUEL SYSTEM WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ENGINE FROM PRODUCING ENOUGH POWER TO PREVENT A FORCED LANDING. THE PROPELLER CAME OFF THE CRANKSHAFT AT IMPACT. MARKS ON THE SIX PROPELLER FLANGE BUSHING INDICATED THE PROPELLER HAD BEEN LOOSE FOR AN UNDETERMINED LENGTH OF TIME. THE FLANGE BUSHING HAD BEEN OVERSTRESSED AND THE FLANGED ENDS SEPARATED FROM THE BUSHINGS. THE BUSHINGS CAME OUT OF THE CRANKSHAFT AT IMPACT. THE FIELD WHERE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST WAS SURROUNDED BY TREES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:10 CST
Nearest AirportDavid Wayne Hawks Mem. (0nm N)
Runway17R
Runway Length7000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-38-112
Tail NumberN2379V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorTravel Air
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 112
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 30 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind150° @ 4 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time23:14
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data