Piper PA-38-112 accident near San Antonio, Florida, December 2, 1987
On December 2, 1987 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2405F, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Antonio, Florida. 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
- December 2, 1987 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Florida · 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
- N2405F · no longer on the register · serial 79A0420
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT BECAME LOST WHILE ON A SOLO X-C TRAINING FLT. HE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT HIS NON CONTROL TOWER DESTINATION AIRPORT VIA UNICOM. HE STATED THAT HE FLEW AROUND FOR 20 OR 25 MINS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE UNICOM CONTACT & WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN DOING SO. HE THEN ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD WHERE THE ACFT FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. THE STUDENT STATED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED TRAINING IN LOST PROCEDURES & KNEW HOW TO CONTACT ST. PETERSBURG FSS, THE NEAREST FACILITY TO HIM, BUT HE FAILED TO DO SO. THE STUDENT PLT COULD OFFER NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY HE DID NOT CONTACT THEM OR SOME OTHER FACILITY.
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: 61 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 29 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,226 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 12, 1986; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flight Safety Internat'L, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: OMN Ormond Beach FL
- Destination: X05 Brooksville FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from TPA, 27 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.