Piper PA-38-112 accident near Southern Pines, North Carolina, March 22, 1997
On March 22, 1997 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9221T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Southern Pines, North Carolina (Moore County 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 student pilot's improper landing flare and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the training flight, which led to a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 1997 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Southern Pines, North Carolina · Moore County · 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
- N9221T · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0281
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor (CFI) stated that, the student pilot was flying the airplane when the accident occurred. He reported that this was the last approach for this flight. The approach profile remained stable until the airplane was beyond the runway threshold. The CFI recalled that as the student started the landing flare, the airplane felt like it just stopped flying. In a failed attempt, the CFI applied additional engine power to recover from the no-fly condition; the airplane dropped about 15 feet onto the runway, and the left main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction nor did the CFI report a problem with the airplane.
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: 1,650 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 1,580 as pilot in command; 1,084 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,464 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 23, 1997; 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
- Departed from: SOP at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from SOP, 360 miles away
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.