Piper PA-38-112 accident near Floyd, Iowa, December 31, 1983
On December 31, 1983 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N4457E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Floyd, Iowa. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 1983 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Floyd, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N4457E · registry record · serial 38-78
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) & STUDENT WERE ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THEY WERE MAKING 90 DEG TURNS AT ABOUT 1500 FT AGL, JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. AFTER TURNING FROM A HEADING OF SOUTH TO EAST, THE ACFT ENTERED A DESCENT, THEN IMPACTED IN AN OPEN, SNOW COVERED FIELD IN ABOUT A 35 DEG NOSE DOWN, WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE FLAPS WERE IN A 21 DEG EXTENDED POSITION (1ST NOTCH). THE FLAPS BLADES WERE FOUND WITH NICKS & GOUGES ON THEIR LEADING EDGES & WITH CORDWISE SCRATCHES. NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WRE FOUND. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE MANEUVERS BEING PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DESCRIPTIVE OF SLOW FLT. HE DID RECOMMEND PRACTICING SLOW FLT AT LOW ALTITUDES. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT HAD RECEIVED HIS CFI CERTIFICATE 10/7/83.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 329 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 229 as pilot in command; 17 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,088 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-230 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCY Charles City IA at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from MCW, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.