Piper PA-38-112 accident near Vero Beach, Florida, June 14, 1988
On June 14, 1988 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2387T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vero Beach, Florida (Vero Beach 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
- June 14, 1988 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Vero Beach, Florida · Vero Beach
- 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
- N2387T · no longer on the register · serial 78A0786
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 25 YR OLD STUDENT PLT WAS PRACTICING TAKE-OFFS & LDGS ON RWY 11L IN PREPARATION FOR HIS PVT PLT FLT TEST. WHEN HE DEPARTED, ABOUT 1.9 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDS WERE 090 DEGS AT 13 KNTS. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WINDS HAD INCREASED TO 18 KNTS WITH TURBULENCE. THE STUDENT PLT HAD REQUIRED EXTRA INSTRUCTION IN THE AREA OF X-WIND LDGS PREVIOUSLY. HE STATED HE WAS USING RUDDER ONLY TO CORRECT FOR DRIFT & DID NOT USE AILERON AS HE WAS AFRAID HE WOULD DRAG A WING. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING AN ERRATIC FINAL, LOSING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TOUCHDOWN & DEPARTING THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN FLIPPED OVER TO AN INVERTED POSITION.
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: 72 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,931 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 2, 1988; 28 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: VRB
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11L, 2,650 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:05 pm from VRB
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.