Piper PA-38-112 accident near Vero Beach, Florida, June 11, 1986
On June 11, 1986 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2378D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vero Beach, Florida (New Hibiscus airport). It was an instructional 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
- June 11, 1986 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vero Beach, Florida · New Hibiscus · 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
- N2378D · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0288
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A PRACTICE SOFT-FIELD TAKEOFF FROM RWY 18. JUST PRIOR TO ROTATION THE MAIN GEAR CONTACTED A BUMP IN THE AIRSTRIP AND THE ACFT DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. THE ACFT CONTINUED LEFT WHERE IT STRUCK TREES ALONGSIDE THE RWY. THE SURFACE WINDS AT THE APRX TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE REPORTED AF 130 DEGS AT 16 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KTS. THE PLT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY ADVISED BY HIS CFI THAT STUDENT PLTS WERE NOT PERMITTED TO CONDUCT SOLO OPERATIONS FROM THAT ARPT DUE TO THE ROUGH TURF RWYS.
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: 35 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,793 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 19, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flight Saftey, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: X26 Sebastian FL at 7:10 pm
- Destination: VRB Vero Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 16 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from VRB, 7 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.