Piper PA-38-112 accident near St. Augustine, Florida, July 27, 1983
On July 27, 1983 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9945T, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Augustine, Florida (Tillis 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
- July 27, 1983 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- St. Augustine, Florida · Tillis · 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
- N9945T · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0256
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PLT STATED THAT JUST AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ENG BEGAN MISFIRING & LOST POWER. AT THAT POINT, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT RWY REMAINING TO STOP, SO AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF. THE ACFT DID NOT CLEAR CORN AT THE END OF THE 2000 FT STRIP. IT CAME TO REST IN THE CORN FIELD WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENG REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES THAT WOULD CAUSE A POWER LOSS.
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: 4,171 hours in all; 603 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,423 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 2, 1983; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from CRG, 30 miles away
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.