Piper PA-38-112 accident near Roswell, New Mexico, September 30, 1992
On September 30, 1992 at about 8:57 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2372V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roswell, New Mexico (Roswell Air Center 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 FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE CORRECT AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 1992 · about 8:57 pm local time
- Place
- Roswell, New Mexico · Roswell Air Center · 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
- N2372V · no longer on the register · serial 38-82A00029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A STUDENT PILOT ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT STALLED THE AIRPLANE ON FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE IN A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN.
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: 48 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,238 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 3, 1992; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LRU Las Cruces NM at 6:20 pm
- Destination: ROW
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 10,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:06 pm from ROW, 1 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.