Piper PA-38-112 accident near Tyler, Minnesota, May 5, 1985
On May 5, 1985 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2588F, was destroyed in an accident near Tyler, Minnesota (Tyler Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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 5, 1985 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Tyler, Minnesota · Tyler Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2588F · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0489
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT STATED HE WAS ABOUT TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF DURING THE LONG GROUND RUN WHEN THE ACFT LIFTED OFF. AT 30 TO 40 FT AGL ACFT BEGAN TO SINK. ACFT CONTACTED A FENCE POST AND TOUCHED DOWN IN A PLOWED FIELD. NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND ACFT NOSED OVER. PLT PREVIOUSLY ABORTED ONE TAKEOFF BECAUSE OF A LONG TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. AIRSTRIP BEING USED WAS REPORTED AS BEING SOFTER THAN NORMAL. POST ACCIDENT ENGINE TEST RUN REVEALED NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. PLT REPORTED, 'THERE IS A LARGE GROVE OF TREES & BUILDINGS DIRECTLY EAST OF SOUTH PART OF RUNWAY WHICH UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITION, AN EAST WIND COULD CAUSE A DOWNDRAFT OR LOW LIFT CONDITION.' LOCAL WINDS WERE FROM THEEAST DURING THE TAKEOFF.
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: 568 hours in all; 557 in this make and model; 245 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,839 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1985; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,500 ft by 180 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from RWF, 49 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.