Piper PA-38-112 accident near Omaha, Nebraska, May 5, 1998
On May 5, 1998 at about 10:34 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N24435, was substantially damaged in an accident near Omaha, Nebraska (Offutt Afb airport). It was a personal 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
The fatigue failure of the crankshaft which resulted from a spun bearing and the low altitude at which the loss of engine power occurred. A factor in the accident was the embankment on which the airplane was landed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1998 · about 10:34 pm local time
- Place
- Omaha, Nebraska · Offutt Afb · 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
- N24435 · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A1121
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A total loss of engine power was experienced during an initial takeoff climb. A forced landing was made on a levee during which time the airplane was substantially damaged. The investigation revealed a fatigue failure of the crankshaft at the #3 main bearing journal on the Lycoming O-235-L2C engine. The nature of the failure indicated the #3 bearing spun due to undetermined reasons. The airplane had been involved in two propeller strike incidents. The engine was not overhauled after either of these incidents. Lycoming Service Letter L163C recommends removal, disassembly and inspection of the engine after propeller strikes.
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: private
- Flight time: 108 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 108 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,986 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 30, 1997; 79 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: OFF at 10:30 pm
- Destination: SUX Sioux City IA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:12 pm from OFF, 3 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.