Piper PA-38-112 accident near Festus, Missouri, April 18, 1993
On April 18, 1993 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9298T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Festus, Missouri (Festus Memorial airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING APPROACH. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S MOTION SICKNESS AND THE EFFECT OF THE OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION ON HIS PILOTING PERFORMANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 1993 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Festus, Missouri · Festus Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N9298T · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0337
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ON A ROUND-ROBIN SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM ST. LOUIS TO POTOSI, BONNE TERRE, AND RETURN. DURING THE RETURN TRIP TO ST. LOUIS THE PILOT BECAME MOTION-SICK AND DIVERTED TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT - FESTUS - FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE AIRPLANE LANDED 250 FT SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, ABOUT 40 FT BELOW THE CREST OF THE HILL WHERE THE RUNWAY IS LOCATED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD TAKEN AN OVER-THE-COUNTER MOTION-SICKNESS TABLET (50 MG DIMENHYDRINATE) PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE FROM ST. LOUIS; AN ELAPSED FLIGHT TIME OF ABOUT 2.1 HRS. THE LABEL OF THE MEDICATION STATED IT COULD CAUSE MARKED DROWSINESS, AND BORE A CAUTION AGAINST DRIVING OR OPERATING MACHINERY.
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: 52 hours in all; 52 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,041 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 18, 1993; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Phoenix Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SUS Saint Louis MO at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft by 49 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from SUS, 35 miles away
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.