Piper PA-38-112 accident near Middleton, Wisconsin, July 26, 1986
On July 26, 1986 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2444N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middleton, Wisconsin (Morey airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- July 26, 1986 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Middleton, Wisconsin · Morey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2444N · registry record · serial 38-79A0845
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI AND STUDENT HAD BEEN PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO'S AND HAD JUST MADE A FULL STOP LANDING. THE CFI REPORTED THAT DURING A SUBSEQUENT SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF, ACCELLERATION SEEMED A LITTLE SLOW, AND AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO STOP ACCELERATING ALTOGETHER. REPORTEDLY, THE STALL WARNING SYSTEM BEEPED A FEW TIMES AND THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK UNEVEN TERRAIN (A ROAD) AND CRASHED. THE CFI ALSO REPORTED PRACTICING SOFT FIELD TAKEOFFS IN THE SAME AIRCRAFT JUST PRIOR TO THIS LESSON. AN INSPECTION DID NOT REVEAL ANY DEFECTS WITH THE AIRCRAFT. THE CFI HAD A TOTAL OF ONLY 320 HOURS OF FLYING TIME.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 320 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 258 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,351 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 24, 1986; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,260 ft by 135 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from MSN
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.
Other NTSB records under N2444N 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.