Piper PA-38-112 accident near Brazil, Indiana, April 22, 1989
On April 22, 1989 at about 3:20 am local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2601A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brazil, Indiana (Clay County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE TO ESTABLISH A PROPER GLIDEPATH. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION, THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, AND HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 1989 · about 3:20 am local time
- Place
- Brazil, Indiana · Clay County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2601A · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0771
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONDUCT HIS FINAL APPROACH AT A LOWER ALTITUDE FROM THE GROUND THAN DURING HIS PREVIOUS LANDING AT ANOTHER AIRPORT ON THIS DAY DUE TO THE PREVIOUS APPROACH RESULTING IN A LONG LANDING. THE APPROACH WAS ON A DARK NIGHT AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY FOLLOWED BY AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES, HOWEVER HIS PASSENGER REPORTED NO INJURIES.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4A9 Ft. Payne AL at 11:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,940 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:45 am from HUF, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.