Piper PA-38-112 accident near New Castle, Delaware, April 10, 1991
On April 10, 1991 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2535N, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Castle, Delaware (New Castle County airport). It was a personal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1991 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Castle, Delaware · New Castle 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
- N2535N · registry record · serial 38-79A0904
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF BY THE CONTROL TOWER, HE WAS TOLD THAT THE WIND WAS 320 DEGREES AT 20 KNOTS. HE STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT. HE TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTION BY APPLYING RIGHT AILERON AND RIGHT RUDDER, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRCRAFT WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WHERE IT STRUCK A TAXIWAY SIGN. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD MORE INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE IN CROSSWIND AND GUST CONDITIONS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 80 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,741 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 4, 1991; 30 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
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,594 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 20 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from ILG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number BFO91LA044.