Piper PA-38-112 accident near Pensacola, Florida, June 20, 1993
On June 20, 1993 at about 5:34 am local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2534B, was destroyed in an accident near Pensacola, Florida (Pensacola Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DUE TO ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT. THE DARK NIGHT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1993 · about 5:34 am local time
- Place
- Pensacola, Florida · Pensacola Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2534B · registry record · serial 38-79A0112
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DEPARTED A BAR FOR THE AIRPORT ABOUT 2300, AND STOPPED AT A GAS STATION FOR A 12-PACK OF BEER. AFTER TAKEOFF THEY FLEW AROUND FOR 5-10 MINUTES, THEN TURNED BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A DIVE, AND THE PILOT DID NOT SAY ANYTHING. THE PASSENGER STATED HE WAS BEING PRESSED DOWN IN HIS SEAT AND THOUGHT THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF THE DIVE WHEN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE PILOT'S BLOOD ALCHOL LEVEL WAS 292.000 MG/DL (0.29%). IN ADDITION, DIPHENHYDRAMINE WAS DETECTED IN THE PILOT'S BLOOD AND URINE, AND 9.900 UG/ML ACETAMINOPHEN WAS DETECTED IN THE URINE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 353 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 301 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,511 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 29, 1993; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:48 am from PNS, 1 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.