Piper PA-38-112 accident near Monroe, North Carolina, April 26, 1985
On April 26, 1985 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2490A, was destroyed in an accident near Monroe, North Carolina (Monroe airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- April 26, 1985 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Monroe, North Carolina · Monroe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2490A · registry record · serial 38-7810710
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH RWY 23 (APRX 120 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END) FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING AN INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A STEEP CLIMB ON TAKEOFF AFTER WHICH THE RIGHT WING DROPPED. THE ACFT THEN ENTERED A SPIN PRIOR TO CONTACTING THE RWY. SEVERAL PEOPLE REPORTED HAVING SEEN THE PLT PERFORM AN ABRUPT PULL-UP DURING TAKEOFF VARIOUS TIMES PRECEEDING THE ACCIDENT FLT. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT AD 83-14-08 REGARDING INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL FLOW STRIPS ON THE WINGS HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,034 hours in all; 446 in this make and model; 305 in the last 90 days; 898 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,906 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 18, 1985; 126 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: Madison GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from CLT, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.