Piper PA-38-112 accident near Byron, California, March 17, 1985
On March 17, 1985 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2369P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Byron, California (Byron Airpark airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 17, 1985 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Byron, California · Byron Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2369P · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A-0967
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI & STUDENT PLT WERE PRACTICING TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS. DURING THE STUDENTS SECOND APCH, THE ACFT WAS TOO HIGH & FAST. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN MIDFIELD, LEFT OF THE RWY, & IN THE GRASS. THE CFI APPLIED PWR TO TAKEOFF, HOWEVER, THE ACFT STALLED AND THE LEFT WING TIP HIT THE GROUND & A FENCE POST. THE STUDENT PLT HAD A TOTAL OF 40 HRS DUAL & HAD NOT SOLOED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 625 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 575 as pilot in command; 300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,469 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 1985; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,576 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4Q5 at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,220 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.