Piper PA-38 accident near Palmetto, Florida, September 4, 1986
On September 4, 1986 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-38, registered N938SC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmetto, Florida (Manatee 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
- September 4, 1986 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Palmetto, Florida · Manatee
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38 · all PA-38s on the register
- Registration
- N938SC · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0541
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI WAS DEMONSTRATING A SIMULATED SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF ON A GRASS AIRSTRIP TO HIS STUDENT. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PLT STATED THE ACFT WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY, BUT AFTER LIFT-OFF, HE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB OUT OF GROUND EFFECT. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AT THE END OF THE RWY. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE ACFT WAS DETERMINED TO BE 29 LBS OVER GROSS WEIGHT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 760 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 670 as pilot in command; 71 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 18, 1986; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 48X at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 2,300 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 pm from SRQ, 16 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.