Piper PA-38 accident near Huntsville, Alabama, August 15, 1982
On August 15, 1982 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38, registered N2514E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Huntsville, Alabama (North Huntsville airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1982 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Huntsville, Alabama · North Huntsville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38 · all PA-38s on the register
- Registration
- N2514E · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0477
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A FLIGHT CHECK TO OBTAIN A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE. THE FLIGHT EXAMINER HAD INSTRUCTED HIM TO STAY IN THE PATTERN AND DEMONSTRATE A SHORT FIELD APPROACH AND LANDING. THE FLIGHT EXAMINER STATED THAT ON FINAL APPROACH, THE AIMING POINT SEEMED A LITTLE SHORT, BUT OTHERWISE, THE APPROACH WAS SATISFACTORY UNTIL THE STUDENT SUDDENLY REDUCED THE POWER. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SETTLE AND THE STUDENT WAS INSTRUCTED TO GET THE NOSE UP. HE RAISED THE NOSE, BUT DID NOT APPLY POWER. THE EXAMINER THEN APPLIED POWER, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SETTLE AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUCK A FENCE POST ABOUT 30 FT SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 56 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 27 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,226 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M82 Huntsville AL
- Destination: M82 Huntsville AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,775 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 172°F (78°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.