Piper PA-38-112 accident near Slidell, Louisiana, March 24, 1996
On March 24, 1996 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9385T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Slidell, Louisiana (Slidell airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the approach, and his failure to execute a go-around. A factor was the gusting wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 1996 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Slidell, Louisiana · Slidell · 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
- N9385T · registry record · serial 38-78A0085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an approach to runway 18, the aircraft was overtaking a landing aircraft. The pilot performed a series of low altitude (100 to 150 feet) S-turns to increase the distance between his aircraft and the aircraft in front of him. According to witnesses, these S-turns were at a 'very high angle of bank.' The pilot reported that when the aircraft was at tree level and at an airspeed of 80 knots, 'wind shear' was encountered. The wind 'shoved the aircraft to the left and to the ground.' According to the FAA inspector the winds at Slidell Airport were from 120 degrees at 15 gusting to 22 knots.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,060 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 859 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,706 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 7, 1996; 20 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: NEW New Orleans LA at 5:05 pm
- Destination: 6R0
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,058 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from NEW, 21 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.