Stillwater Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074
Saturday, March 29, 1997 9:45 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the landing roll on runway 17 with a left crosswind, the airplane traveled approximately 500 feet, then veered left. The student pilot stated that he applied right rudder; however, the airplane continued to veer left, entering a skid. The nose landing gear separated, and the airplane exited the left side of the runway, then skidded approximately 30 feet on grass before coming to a full stop. The left crosswind component was calculated to be 9 to 10 knots. The Pilot's Operating Handbook listed the airplane's maximum demonstrated crosswind component as 15 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground swerve and collapse of the nose gear. The crosswind was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/29/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City STILLWATER
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 74074
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport STILLWATER MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SWO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 986
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 274
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 4 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1444
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:10PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N194BA
NTSB Number FTW97LA152
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-82A0063
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BUSINESS AIR CORPORATE AVIATIO
Aircraft Owner Street Address HANGAR 3 C
Aircraft Owner City BETHANY
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 73008
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PWA
Departure City OKLAHOMA CITY
Departure State OK
Departure Country
Departure Time 905
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SWO
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 6002
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --