On January 12, 1992, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N9483T) operated by Quonset Flight Center was involved in an aviation accident near Richmond, RI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING ROLLOUT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a local flight landing, a student pilot flared prematurely, lost directional control, and departed the runway. After maneuvering to avoid a runway light, the airplane struck a tree with its left wingtip and came to rest in an embankment.
Incident Overview
A student pilot on a local flight experienced difficulties during the landing phase. The pilot reported that he flared the aircraft too early, leading to a loss of directional control. As a result, the airplane touched down left of the runway centerline and continued its rollout off the centerline, eventually departing the runway.
Sequence of Events
The student pilot, intending to avoid hitting a runway light, elected to maneuver the aircraft to the left of the light. During this maneuver, the left wingtip struck a tree. The impact caused the airplane to spin to the left before coming to rest in an embankment.
Outcome
The aircraft sustained damage to its left wingtip from the tree strike. No other details regarding injuries or further damage were provided in the source. The airplane came to a stop in an embankment after the collision.