Piper PA-38-112 accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida, February 10, 1989
On February 10, 1989 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N926SA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida (Fernandina Beach Muni 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
LOCKING OF THE LEFT BRAKE, WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND SWERVE AND LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 1989 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fernandina Bch, Florida · Fernandina Beach Muni · 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
- N926SA · no longer on the register · serial 3879A0691
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT DURING A TOUCH-&-GO LANDING, THE ACFT STARTED TO VEER TOWARD THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. HE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION BY USING RIGHT RUDDER & BRAKE, BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY & INTO AN AREA OF GRASS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE NOSE & RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. A POSTCRASH EXAM REVEALED THE LEFT BRAKE WAS LOCKED & THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOULD NOT TURN.
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: 41 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,770 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 9, 1989; 7 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: CRG Jacksonville FL at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 5,350 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:49 pm from JAX, 20 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.