Piper PA-38-112 accident near Wauseon, Ohio, March 31, 1986
On March 31, 1986 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2572C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wauseon, Ohio (Grieser 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
- March 31, 1986 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wauseon, Ohio · Grieser · 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
- N2572C · no longer on the register · serial N2572C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LANDED & NOSED OVER ABOUT 770 FT UPWIND OF THE RWY IT HAD USED FOR TAKEOFF. THE CFI THOUGHT THAT THE SOD STRIP WAS TOO SOFT FOR THE STUDENT TO MAKE THE TAKEOFF SO HE TOOK THE CONTROLS. THE ACFT WAS UNABLE TO GAIN PROPER AIRSPEED OR ALT AND LANDED IN A PLOWED FIELD OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE SOD STRIP USED FOR TAKEOFF. AFTER A 60 FT SLIDE THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE SOD STRIP HAD BEEN USED THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT BUT WAS IN POOR CONDITION.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,075 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 863 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1985; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L20 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: DFI Defiance OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.