Piper PA-38-112 accident near Palmetto, Florida, May 1, 1989
On May 1, 1989 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9306T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmetto, Florida (Manatee airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY FOR LANDING ALONG WITH FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER POINT OF TOUCHDOWN AND THE FAILURE TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1989 · about 3:15 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-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N9306T · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EXECUTING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO PLT REPORTED RADIO FAILURE, THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND WITH A RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A FIELD 750 FT PAST THE DEPARTURE END OF THE INTENDED RWY, TRAVELLED ABOUT 800 FT, THEN NOSED OVER AFTER TRAVELLING INTO A DITCH. THE RADIO OPERATIONALLY CHECKED GOOD. THERE WAS NO FAILURE NOR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 167 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 111 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,182 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 24, 1989; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Vandenberg Airport, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PGD Punta Gorda FL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: X16 Tampa FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 3,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from SRQ, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.