Piper PA-38-112 accident near Denton, Texas, December 5, 1993
On December 5, 1993 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2360A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denton, Texas (Denton 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 CAUSE WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS THE TURBULENT WEATHER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 5, 1993 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Denton, Texas · Denton Municipal Airport · 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
- N2360A · registry record · serial 38-78A0653
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR A SUPERVISED CROSS COUNTRY SOLO FLIGHT. THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND HE ABORTED THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AND ELECTED TO LAND AT ANOTHER AIRPORT; DURING APPOACH TO THE INTENDED LANDING POINT, HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE THAT MADE AIRCRAFT CONTROL DIFFICULT. JUST PRIOR TO CROSSING THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AND IMPACTED THE GROUND 7 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 30 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,983 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 9, 1993; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Addison TX at 3:30 pm
- Destination: DUA Durant OK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°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.