Piper PA-38-112 accident near Springfield, Tennessee, September 26, 1985
On September 26, 1985 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2438C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springfield, Tennessee (Springfield). 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
- September 26, 1985 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Tennessee · Springfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2438C · no longer on the register · serial 3879A0185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AFTER CONTACTING THRES DURING A LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF PWR ON TAKEOFF. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE CARBURETOR VALVE ASS'Y HAD SEPARATED FROM THE LEVER ASS'Y ALLOWING THE VALVE TO SEAT FLAT AGAINST THE CARBURETOR THUS BLOCKING THE AIRFLOW. THE THREE SCREWS WHICH SECURE THE VALVE ASS'Y, P/N 77671-09, TO THE LEVER, P/N 77671-10, WERE MISSING AND THE SPOT WELDED SAFETY BAR WAS BROKEN.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 397 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 99 in the last 90 days; 345 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1985; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from BNA
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.