Piper PA-38-112 accident near Hickman, California, February 10, 1982
On February 10, 1982 at about 2:30 am local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2562K, was destroyed in an accident near Hickman, California. 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
- February 10, 1982 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Hickman, California
- 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
- N2562K · registry record · serial 3879 A0680
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD LANDED AT TURLOCK MUNI ARPT FROM A SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT FROM OAKLAND. AFTER ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTY IN STARTING THE ENGINE, THE PLT DEPARTED TURLOCK FOR OAKDALE. ABOUT 3-5 MIN LATER THE ENGINE SOUNDED "BADLY" & THE PLT MADEA PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT HAWKE PRIVATE DUSTER STRIP. AFTER CHECKING OUT THE ENGINE, THE PLT DEPARTED HAWKE. THE PLT AGAIN ENCOUNTERED THE ENGINE PROBLEM & DECIDED TO RETURN TO HAWKE ARPT. HE THEN COULD NOT FIND THE ARPT & LANDED IN A DRY LAKE BED WITHIN 300 YARDS OF THE ARPT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO LOSS OF RPM.
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: 79 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 886 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Western Airmotive CO. INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Riverbank CA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: O27 Oakdale CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 124°F (51°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.