Piper PA-38-112 accident near Decatur, Illinois, January 23, 1987
On January 23, 1987 at about 2:46 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2536A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Decatur, Illinois (Decatur 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
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
- January 23, 1987 · about 2:46 pm local time
- Place
- Decatur, Illinois · Decatur · 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
- N2536A · registry record · serial 38-78A0739
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING TAXI TO RWY 36, THE PLT STATED THAT HE COMPLETED AN ENGINE RUN-UP. ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE ACFT SWERVED TO THE LEFT BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A SNOWBANK APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET FROM THE APCH END OF THE RWY. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, OPPOSITE RUDDER WAS APPLIED PRIOR TO CONTACT WITH THE SNOWBANK.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 12 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,576 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 14, 1986; 69 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 36, 5,299 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:40 pm from DEC
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.
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.