Piper PA-38-112 accident near Terre Haute, Indiana, October 2, 1985
On October 2, 1985 at about 7:24 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N3768U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Terre Haute, Indiana (Hulman Regional airport). It was an instructional 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).
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
- October 2, 1985 · about 7:24 pm local time
- Place
- Terre Haute, Indiana · Hulman Regional · 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
- N3768U · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0301
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT RT MAIN & NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER A POWER LOSS DURING TAKEOFF. THE STUDENT PLT WAS AT THE CONTROLS WHEN THE ENG QUIT AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL. THE CFI TOOK THE CONTROLS AND TURNED LEFT TOWARD A TAXIWAY FOR THE LANDING. THE ACFT LANDED BETWEEN THE RWY & TAXIWAY IN A GROUTH OF SOYBEANS. THE CULTIVATED AREA COLLAPSED THE LANDING GEAR BENDING THE RT WING DURING THE SLIDING STOP. POST ACC INSPECTION SHOWED NO ABNORMALITIES OR DEFECTS IN THE POWERPLANT OR SYSTEMS. WX CONDITIONS WERE NOT CONDUCIVE TO CARB ICING AND NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE CARBURETOR ICE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 328 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 184 as pilot in command; 18 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 831 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 12, 1985; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HUF Terre Haute IN at 7:23 pm
- Destination: HUF Terre Haute IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,290 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:26 pm from HUF, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.