Piper PA-38-112 accident near Burlington, Iowa, March 21, 1991
On March 21, 1991 at about 8:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N26009, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burlington, Iowa (Burlington Muni 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
DELAYED INITIATION OF REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE GUSTY CROSSWINDS, INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND NOT MAINTAINING AIRSPEED BY THE STUDENT PILOT, AND COMPLACENCY BY THE INSTRUCTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 1991 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, Iowa · Burlington Muni · 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
- N26009 · no longer on the register · serial 38-81A0098
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DUAL STUDENT PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND WITH CROSSWIND 40 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT OF RUNWAY HEADING, AND WIND OF 15 GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS REPORTED BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. AT APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET AGL A GUST WAS ENCOUNTERED WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF 15 KNOTS AIRSPEED, AND AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT AND DEVELOP SINK RATE. FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL AND INITIATED GO-AROUND BUT AIRCRAFT STRUCK VASI LIGHTS AND MADE HARD LANDING TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 1,544 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 1,302 as pilot in command; 1,003 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-LCZ (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Remmers Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,491 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from BRL, 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.