Piper PA-38-112 accident near Van Nuys, California, February 10, 1988
On February 10, 1988 at about 4:17 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N25732, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Nuys, California (Van Nuys airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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, 1988 · about 4:17 pm local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Van Nuys · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N25732 · no longer on the register · serial 3881A0066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO AND HAD EXECUTED A GO-AROUND ON HIS FIRST ATTEMPTED TOUCH & GO MANEUVER. THE PLT REENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND LANDED ON RUNWAY 34L. THE AIRPLANE EXITED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY ONTO THE GRASS. WITH THE FLAPS FULLY EXTENDED THE PILOT ADDED FULL POWER AND BEGAN ANOTHER TAKEOFF. SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF THE PLT FULLY RETRACTED THE FLAPS AND THE AIRPLANE SETTLED TO THE GROUND AND COLLIDED WITH THREE PARKED AIRPLANES. THE STUDENT PLT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY AIRPLANE PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: 25 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,936 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 18, 1987; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bud Walen Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: VNY at 4:06 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34L, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:17 pm from VNY
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.