Piper PA-38-112 accident near Fresno, California, March 12, 1983
On March 12, 1983 at about 11:59 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N23415, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fresno, California (Fresno 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 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
- March 12, 1983 · about 11:59 pm local time
- Place
- Fresno, California · Fresno · 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
- N23415 · no longer on the register · serial 38-81-A0099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A HARD LANDING AS A STUDENT PILOT WAS MAKING HIS SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO LANDING. THE ACFT HAD BEEN CLEAREDFOR A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL IN A CROSS WIND CONDITION. HE ATTEMPTED ALIGNMENT OF THE ACFT USING RIGHT AILERON AND RIGHT RUDDER. AFTER A HARD LANDING AND A HIGH BOUNCE THE ACFT APPROACHED A STALL. THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE OF THE ACFT AND RETRACTED THE FLAPS. THE WIND WAS 40 DEGREES OFF THE RIGHT OF THE ACFT NOSE AT 9 KTS IN A LOCAL OBSERVATION MADE AT 1601. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT 1559. ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR THE WIND HAD INCREASED FOLLOWING A DUAL FLT. WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR MADE THIS OBSERVATION IT WAS TOO LATE TO CONTACT THE STUDENT. THE STUDENT HAD DEPARTED AT 1553.
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: 24 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 745 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, February 5, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-K2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 10°F (-12°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.
Other NTSB records under N23415 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.