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Accidents · NTSB FTW88LA086 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-38-112 accident near Grand Prairie, Texas, April 2, 1988

On April 2, 1988, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9213T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Prairie, Texas (Grand Prairie Municipal 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
April 2, 1988
Place
Grand Prairie, Texas · Grand Prairie Municipal · 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
N9213T · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0277
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE STUDENT PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED AFTER IT RAN OFF THE RUNWAY. THE REPORTED WEATHER SHOWED A 90 DEGREE LEFT CROSSWIND AT 12 KNOTS VELOCITY WITH GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACC REPORT. THE FLT TIME RECORDED IS THAT REPORTED ON HIS LAST MEDICAL APPLICATION, NOT NECESSARILY HIS TOTAL FLT TIME AT THE TIME OF THE ACC. HIS LAST MEDICAL WAS ON 3/4/88.

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: 4 hours in all
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 35, 4,000 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 260° at 12 knots, gusting 20
  • Visibility: 12 statute miles
  • Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
  • Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.