On April 30, 1999, a Piper PA-38 (registration N2338D) was involved in an aviation accident near Manassas, VA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the final approach, resulting in a stall. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot experienced an unrecoverable stall during landing on runway 34, resulting in a ground impact immediately after the stall warning activated.
What happened
The aircraft was engaged in a solo training flight when the pilot initiated the approach for landing on runway 34. Meteorological conditions at the time indicated winds from 070 degrees at 6 knots, with gusts reaching 14 knots. As the airplane descended to approximately 20 feet above the runway threshold, the stall warning horn activated. The pilot reported that the aircraft struck the ground immediately following the warning, leaving insufficient time to execute a recovery maneuver. No mechanical deficiencies were identified with the airplane prior to or during the incident.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed no evidence of pre-existing mechanical failures that would have contributed to the event. The pilot stated there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. The student pilot reported 65 hours of total flight experience, all in make and model.
Findings
The primary factor was the stall during the final phase of flight. The pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed below the runway threshold, leading to an unrecoverable loss of control. The student pilot had 65 hours of total flight experience, all in make and model.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the final approach, resulting in a stall.