Piper PA 38-112 accident near Prescott, Arizona, April 20, 1985
On April 20, 1985 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA 38-112, registered N2403N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Arizona. 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 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 20, 1985 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · 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
- N2403N · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0828
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DEPARTED RWY 21. THE REPORTED SURFACE WINDS WERE 190 DEGS AT 12 KTS GUSTING TO 29 KTS. THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING AT 200 FPM UNTIL REACHING 800 FT AGL. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE CONSIDERED THE CLIMB RATE AS BEING TOO SLOW AND ELECTED TO NEGOTIATE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A SAGE BRUSH COVERED FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE LEFT WING STRUCK A SECTION OF OLD FENCE POST WHICH WAS COVERED BY THE SAGE BRUSH. THE AIRPORT IS SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND IS SUBJECT TO EXTENSIVE DOWNDRAFTS. THE CALCULATED DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 6200 FT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,360 hours in all; 490 in this make and model; 87 in the last 90 days; 2,360 as pilot in command; 127 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,420 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PHX Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from PRC, 4 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.