Piper PA-38-112 accident near Wauchula, Florida, October 4, 1984
On October 4, 1984 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N91353, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wauchula, Florida (Wauchula airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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
- October 4, 1984 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wauchula, Florida · Wauchula · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N91353 · no longer on the register · serial 3882A001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT USED OUTDATED SECTIONAL CHART & LANDED AT AN OLD (CLOSED) AIRPORT, WHICH WAS NO LONGER MAINTAINED. ON DEPARTURE, USING SOFT FIELD PROCEDURES, ACFT DID NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY & BECAME AIRBORNE IN GROUND EFFECT AT MINIMAL SPEED. PLT DETERMINED ACFT WOULD NOT CLEAR OBSTACLES AT END OF RUNWAY AND ABORTED TAKEOFF. ACFT OVERRAN ARPT SURFACE AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. INVESTIGATION REVEALED FLAPS SET AT FULL DOWN, GRASS ON RUNWAY 10 TO 12 INCHES IN HEIGHT. ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES.
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
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 61 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 901 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 5, 1984; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-234-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Wauchula FL
- Destination: TPF Tampa FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 2,650 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from PIE, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.