Piper PA-38-112 accident near Chesapeake, Virginia, May 12, 1988
On May 12, 1988 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2601C, was destroyed in an accident near Chesapeake, Virginia (Hampton Roads airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- May 12, 1988 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chesapeake, Virginia · Hampton Roads · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2601C · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0252
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS DOING TOUCH & GO LANDINGS. DURING CLIMBOUT ENGINE POWER LOSS OCCURRED AT AN ESTIMATED 300 FT AGL. THE PILOT RADIOED MAYDAY AND A WITNESS STATED HE HEARD THE STALL HORN DURING THE TRANSMISSION. AFTERWARDS THE ACFT PITCHED DOWN AND SPUN TO THE GROUND. ENGINE EXAMINATION DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY PRE-EXISTING FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: 34 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,620 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 23, 1988; 19 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 10, 4,000 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.