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Accidents · NTSB BFO92LA084 · Final report

Piper PA-38-112 accident near Moneta, Virginia, July 2, 1992

On July 2, 1992 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9218T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moneta, Virginia (Smith Mountain Lake airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE STUDENT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND PROXIMITY OF THE TREE.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
July 2, 1992 · about 4:40 pm local time · cases in 1992
Place
Moneta, Virginia · Smith Mountain Lake · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
Registration
N9218T · registry record · serial 38-78A0280
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS FIRST CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. AS HE WAS LANDING AT AN EN ROUTE AIRPORT, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED DURING TOUCHDOWN. THE STUDENT THEN LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A TREE.

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
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
  • Operator: Carolina Air Academy, INC

The flight

  • Departed from: MWK Mount Airy NC
  • Destination: W91
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 23, 3,050 ft by 50 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Observation at 12:40 pm

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/BFO92LA084.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.