Piper PA-38-112 accident near Beatrice, Nebraska, August 28, 1984
On August 28, 1984 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9707T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beatrice, Nebraska (Beatrice airport). It was an instructional 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 1984 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Beatrice, Nebraska · Beatrice · 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
- N9707T · no longer on the register · serial 7838A0163
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE FLARE AN UNCONTROLLED RATE OF DESCENT DEVELOPED RESULTING IN A TOUCHDOWN SHORT OF THE RWY THRESHOLD. THE MAINLDG GEAR STRUCK THE 5 INCH EXPOSED RWY LIP. DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 4,200 FT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 22,163 hours in all; 302 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 21,925 as pilot in command; 13,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,190 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1984; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BIE Beatrice NE at 10:20 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 5,600 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from BIE
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.