Piper PA-38 accident near New Haven, Illinois, July 30, 1982
On July 30, 1982 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38, registered N25814, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Haven, Illinois. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- July 30, 1982 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Haven, Illinois
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38 · all PA-38s on the register
- Registration
- N25814 · no longer on the register · serial 38-81A0075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT BEFORE DEPARTING ON A ROUTINE PIPE LINE PATROL, HE OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF FLIGHT, THE VISIBILITY BEGAN TO DECREASE DUE TO GROUND FOG. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON A GRAVEL ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT WING STRUCK TALL GRASS AND THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED INTO A DITCH.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 2,304 hours in all; 452 in this make and model; 237 in the last 90 days; 1,882 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 717 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bullfrog, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Owensboro KY at 10:00 am
- Destination: Owensboro KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N25814 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.