Piper PA-38-112 accident near Terra Ceia, Florida, January 12, 1989
On January 12, 1989 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2439B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Terra Ceia, 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 IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE STUDENT PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: TAILWIND CONDITIONS DURING THE LANDING AND THE PROXIMITY OF THE DITCH TO THE SELECTED LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 12, 1989 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Terra Ceia, Florida
- 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
- N2439B · registry record · serial 38-79A0062
- 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 DURING A SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT, HE HEARD UNUSUAL SOUNDS, BUT THERE WAS NO ENG FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A SOD FIELD. AFTER LANDING WITH A TAILWIND, HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACFT BEFORE IT CONTINUED INTO A DITCH & WAS DAMAGED. COMPANY PERSONNEL WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY PREIMPACT PROBLEMS.
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: 92 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,601 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1988; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero Leasing, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FLL Fort Lauderdale FL at 5:00 pm
- Destination: SRQ Sarasota FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:46 pm from SRQ, 14 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.