Piper PA-38-112 accident near Scottsbluff, Nebraska, May 17, 1982
On May 17, 1982, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N25718, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scottsbluff, Nebraska (Scottsbluff Company 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 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1982 · cases in 1982
- Place
- Scottsbluff, Nebraska · Scottsbluff Company · cases near this airport · map
- 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
- N25718 · registry record · serial 3881A0061
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING AN APPROACH FOR A TOUCH AND GO LANDING, AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DROP. HE APPLIED THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE HESITATED, FAILING TO ACCELERATE UNTIL JUST BEFORE IMPACT WITH THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN ACCELERATOR PUMP AND REQUIRED ENGINE POWER TO BE APPLIED AT A SLOWER RATE TO REDUCE ENGINE HESITATION.
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: 102 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 59 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 119 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 19 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: BFF Scottsbluff NE at 6:09 pm
- Destination: BFF Scottsbluff NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 8,280 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 127°F (53°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from BFF
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.
Other NTSB records under N25718 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N25718 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-38 Tomahawk 442 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,842 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C 84 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Nebraska 763 since 1982 · 108 in the last ten years
- Nebraska 2,950 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N25718 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/MKC82DA089.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.