Piper PA-38-112 N9385T

Summary

On 24 March 1996 at about 17:30 local time, a Piper PA-38-112 registered N9385T, operated by RFB Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Slidell, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 March 1996 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Slidell, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Slidell (6R0)

Coordinates

30.2802, -89.7699

Aircraft

Piper PA-38-112

Registration

N9385T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

RFB Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

New Orleans → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96LA154

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the approach, and his failure to execute a go-around. A factor was the gusting wind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an approach to runway 18, the aircraft was overtaking a landing aircraft. The pilot performed a series of low altitude (100 to 150 feet) S-turns to increase the distance between his aircraft and the aircraft in front of him. According to witnesses, these S-turns were at a 'very high angle of bank.' The pilot reported that when the aircraft was at tree level and at an airspeed of 80 knots, 'wind shear' was encountered. The wind 'shoved the aircraft to the left and to the ground.' According to the FAA inspector the winds at Slidell Airport were from 120 degrees at 15 gusting to 22 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.