Piper PA-38-112 accident near Lincoln, Illinois, August 21, 1992
On August 21, 1992 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2353L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lincoln, Illinois (Logan County 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A PREMATURE LIFTOFF AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A TAKEOFF GROUND RUN BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. A DELAY IN TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE DESIGNATED PILOT EXAMINER IS AN ADDITIONAL CAUSE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1992 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln, Illinois · Logan County · 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
- N2353L · registry record · serial 38-79A-730
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH HIGH VEGETATION AND TERRAIN AFTER A PREMATURE LIFTOFF DURING A TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. A DESIGNATED PILOT EXAMINER (DPE) WAS ADMINISTERING A PRIVATE PILOT FLIGHT TEST TO A PRIVATE PILOT CANDIDATE. HE REQUESTED THE STUDENT PILOT DEMONSTRATE A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO THE DPE, AS THE AIRPLANE PROCEEDED DOWN THE RUNWAY IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS BEHIND THE POWER CURVE. HE WAS ABOUT TO PULL THE POWER WHEN THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE AND MADE A TURN TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT WING HIT CORN AT THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, PULLING THE AIRPLANE INTO THE CORN. THE STUDENT PILOT SAID HE PULLED THE NOSE UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND USED SIDE TO SIDE VISION TO STEER THE AIRPLANE. HE SAID THE RIDE SEEMED SLOW AND ROUGH. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE MOMENTARILY TWICE. WHEN HE SPOTTED THE CORN HE TRIED TO PULL UP. THE AIRPLANE LIFTED BUT SETTLED BACK DOWN AT THE EDGE OF THE CORN.
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
- Flight time: 45 hours in all; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,926 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 20, 1992; 3 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: CAP Springfield IL at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 2,700 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from CAP, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI92LA248.