Piper PA-38-112 accident near Mt. Airy, North Carolina, June 25, 1985
On June 25, 1985 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2395G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mt. Airy, North Carolina (Mt. Airy airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- June 25, 1985 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mt. Airy, North Carolina · Mt. Airy · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2395G · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0516
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE NEARING COMPLETION OF A SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT, THE ENG QUIT. THE STUDENT PLT SELECTED AN OPEN AREA, BUT OVERSHOT THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT & THE ACFT CRASHED IN THE BACKYARD OF A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING. AN INVESTIGATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. ONLY ABOUT 3 QTS OF FUEL WAS REMAINING IN THE LEFT TANK. THE RIGHT TANK WAS DAMAGED, SO THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THAT TANK COULD NOT BE VERIFIED. ACCORDING TO THE ARPT MANAGER, THE ACFT SHOULD HAVE HAD AN ENDURANCE OF 5 HRS AT NORMAL POWER. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 4.3 HRS AFTER TAKEOFF.
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: 60 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,083 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 30, 1985; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Mt. Airy NC at 1:00 pm
- Destination: Mt Airy NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from INT
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.