Piper PA-38-112 accident near Burlington, Iowa, November 12, 1984
On November 12, 1984 at about 11:48 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2454B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burlington, Iowa (Burlington Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- November 12, 1984 · about 11:48 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, Iowa · Burlington Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2454B · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0068
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE DESCENT INTO THE TRAFFIC PATTERN WAS LATE AND THE BASE TURN PERFORMED EARLY LEAVING THE ACFT HIGH ON FINAL. AS A RESULT, AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT DEVELOPED ON SHORT FINAL. THE HIGH DESCENT RATE AND DIMINISHING DAYLIGHT LED THE PILOT TO MISJUDGE THE PROPER FLARE ATTITUDE. REALIZING THAT THE FLARE WAS HIGH THE PILOT PUSHED THE YOKE FORWARD RESULTING IN A HARD, NOSE GEAR FIRST LANDING. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT SHE WAS TIRED AFTER THE 4 HOUR SOLO TRIP.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 39 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,098 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 1984; 98 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: DVN Davenport IA at 10:50 am
- Destination: BRL Burlington IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,702 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from BRL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.