Piper PA-38-112 accident near Charles City, Iowa, October 22, 1989
On October 22, 1989 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2366N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Charles City, Iowa (Charles City 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING PHASE COUPLED WITH THE CFI'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION DURING THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. THE CFI'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 1989 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Charles City, Iowa · Charles City · 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
- N2366N · registry record · serial 38-79A0812
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE GIVING A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVEIW TO A NON-CURRENT PRIVATE PILOT, THE CFI SAID THAT THEY LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING A LANDING, AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE, THEN THE TERRAIN. THE CFI HAD A TOTAL OF 20 HOURS IN TYPE AND NO HOURS IN TYPE FOR THE PRECEEDING 90 DAYS.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 529 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 489 as pilot in command; 10 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Charles City Aeronautics, INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:50 pm from MCW, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MKC90LA013.