Piper PA-28-140 accident near Easton, Maryland, November 22, 1986
On November 22, 1986 at about 3:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N7538R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Easton, Maryland (Easton airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- November 22, 1986 · about 3:35 pm local time
- Place
- Easton, Maryland · Easton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N7538R · no longer on the register · serial 28-22336
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT STATED THAT THE LANDING APPROACH WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE ACFT WAS OVER THE RWY THRESHOLD; AT A HEIGHT OF 35 FT, HE ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO STRONG TURBULENCE AND AFTERWARDS THE ACFT PITCHED UP TEN DEGREES AND ENTERED INTO A MODERATELY STEEP LEFT BANK. THE PLT APPLIED FULL POWER AND ATTEMPTED TO DO A GO-AROUND; HOWEVER, THE ACFT HIT THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RWY ABOUT 500 FT FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RWY. THE ACFT SPUN AROUND AND CAME TO REST IN A GRASS/MUD AREA ABOUT 150 FT LEFT OF THE RWY.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 20 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,492 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 8, 1986; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANP Annapolis MD at 2:55 pm
- Destination: ESN Easton MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.