Piper PA-38-112 accident near Alpine, Texas, January 24, 1987
On January 24, 1987 at about 8:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2592C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alpine, Texas (Alpine Mun. airport). 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
- January 24, 1987 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Alpine, Texas · Alpine Mun. · 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
- N2592C · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0249
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
STUDENT PILOT ON SOLO FLIGHT ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF IN STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DRAGGED LEFT WING TIP ON RUNWAY. PILOT LEVELED WINGS AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND AIRCRAFT BUT DEPARTED LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH DITCH.
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: 37 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 16 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,095 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 21, 1986; 111 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: E38 Alpine TX at 8:05 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 2,440 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 23 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:03 pm from MRF, 17 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.