Piper PA-38-112 accident near Apple Valley, California, April 22, 1982
On April 22, 1982 at about 11:53 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N24082, was destroyed in an accident near Apple Valley, California (Apple Valley airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 22, 1982 · about 11:53 pm local time
- Place
- Apple Valley, California · Apple Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N24082 · no longer on the register · serial 79A1081
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TO BE GLIDING ON FINAL APPROACH WITH THE ENGINE AT IDLE WHEN IT ABRUPTLY PITCHED NOSE DOWN AND STRUCK THE GROUND. THE ENGINE AND BOTH LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS CONTACTED THE GROUND AT THE SAME TIME WITH NO TURNING MOVEMENT. INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OF MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE ABOUT 1/8 MILE FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 FT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN.
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: 59 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 724 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Custom Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 2:49 pm
- Destination: Return
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 158°F (70°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.