Casualties unknown

1999-06-03: Piper PA-38-112 (N4273E) — Moonstar Flight Academy — Houston, TX

Houston, TX, US

On June 3, 1999, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N4273E) operated by Moonstar Flight Academy was involved in an aviation accident near Houston, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The dual student's failure to maintain control of the aircraft while conducting a visual approach in gusting crosswinds. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A dual-student pilot failed to maintain control during a visual approach in gusting crosswinds. The flight instructor attempted a go-around, but the aircraft impacted the ground beside the runway.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was conducting a visual approach for landing at an airport. Conditions included gusting crosswinds which presented significant handling challenges. The pilot, identified as a dual student undergoing training, was unable to maintain control of the aircraft during the final phase of the approach.

Recognizing the loss of control, the flight instructor, who possessed 25 hours of experience as an instructor, attempted to execute a go-around maneuver. Despite these efforts, the aircraft failed to regain sufficient altitude or stability and impacted the ground beside the runway of intended landing.

The investigation

The investigation focused on the immediate circumstances surrounding the loss of control during the approach. Key factors identified included the weather conditions at the time of the event. Specifically, the presence of gusting crosswinds contributed to the difficulty in maintaining aircraft control. The experience level of the flight instructor was also noted as a factual detail regarding the crew composition.

Findings

The primary finding relates to the pilot's inability to manage the aircraft during the challenging weather conditions. The combination of the student pilot's skill level and the gusting crosswinds led to the loss of control. The subsequent impact with the ground resulted from the failed go-around attempt.

Probable cause

The dual student's failure to maintain control of the aircraft while conducting a visual approach in gusting crosswinds.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X18974. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.