Smith Mountain Lake Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Moneta, Virginia 24121
Thursday, July 2, 1992 12:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS FIRST CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. AS HE WAS LANDING AT AN EN ROUTE AIRPORT, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED DURING TOUCHDOWN. THE STUDENT THEN LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A TREE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE STUDENT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND PROXIMITY OF THE TREE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/2/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1240
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MONETA
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 24121
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W91
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 48
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1240
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) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 1052
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 2 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1245
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52890
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9218T
NTSB Number BFO92LA084
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 38-78A0280
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CAROLINA AIR ACADEMY, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City CLEMONS
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27012
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CAROLINA AIR ACADEMY, INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4279 LAKE CLIFF DRIVE
Operator City CLEMMONS
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 27012
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 MWK
Departure City MOUNT AIRY
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code W91
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 3050
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --