Piper PA-38-112 accident near Odessa, Delaware, May 5, 1991
On May 5, 1991 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9285, was destroyed in an accident near Odessa, Delaware. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RECOVER FROM A STALL. CONTRIBUTING WAS AN INTENTIONAL STALL OF THE AIRCRAFT, PILOT INEXPEREINCE AND INADEQUATE ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1991 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Odessa, Delaware · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N9285 · registry record · serial 78A0320
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS SAID THEY SAW THE ACFT FLYING IN THE AREA FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES DOING A MANEUVER IN WHICH THE ACFT BANKED AND DESCENDED WITH ENGINE POWER INCREASING DURING THE DESCENT. THE WITNESSES SAID THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES WITH THE ACCIDENT OCCURING THE THIRD TIME. HE SAID THE ACFT WAS AT LOW ALTITUDE DURING THE MANEUVER. THE ACFT CRASHED IN A SWAMP IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE STUDENT PLT FAILED HIS PRIVATE PILOT TEST FLIGHT ABOUT A WEEK EARLIER. ACCORDING TO FAA RECORDS, DURING THE TEST HE FAILED ALL FLIGHT PHASES. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON HIS SECOND FLIGHT SINCE THE TEST, NEITHER OF WHICH INVOLVED DUAL INSTRUCTION WITH HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.
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: 97 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 10 in the last 30 days; 33 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,368 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1991; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dawn Aeronautics, INC
The flight
- Departed from: ILG Wilmington DE at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 43°F (6°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.
Other NTSB records under N9285 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.