Piper PA-38-112 accident near Shiro, Texas, March 2, 1983
On March 2, 1983 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2381K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shiro, Texas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 1983 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Shiro, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2381K · registry record · serial 38-79A0605
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY, THE STUDENT PLT BECAME DISORIENTED ON THE 3RD LEG OF THE FLT. HE REORIENTED HIMSELF, BUT THE ENG LOST POWER BEFORE HE REACHED HIS INTENDED DESTINATION. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED SOFT TERRAIN & WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT ROLLED ACROSS A 3 FT DEEP DITCH. APRX 5 TO 6 GAL OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT TANK & ONLY ABOUT 1 GAL WAS REMAINING IN THE RIGHT TANK. UNUSABLE FUEL WAS 1 GAL PER TANK. THE STUDENT SAID THAT WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER, HE MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT TANK, THEN SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT TANK & BACK TO THE LEFT TANK AGAIN WHILE HE WAS TRYING TO RESTART THE ENG.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 49 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,323 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 92 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: HOU Houston TX
- Destination: T72 Hearne TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.