Piper PA-38-112 accident near Lincoln, Rhode Island, February 28, 2001
On February 28, 2001 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2542A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lincoln, Rhode Island (North Central Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loose fuel line, which resulted in fuel starvation to the engine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 2001 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln, Rhode Island · North Central Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2542A · registry record · serial 78A075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the airplane was climbing from the runway, the engine began to "sputter," and then quit. The CFI turned the airplane towards the airport in an attempt to return to the runway. Realizing that the airplane would not make the runway, the CFI stalled the airplane into the treetops, where it came to rest suspended by tree limbs. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed an air leak at the fuel line connection on the electric fuel pump.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 642 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 577 as pilot in command; 36 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 17, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: flight engineer, student
- Flight time: 60 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,329 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 24, 2001; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-230-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFZ Lincoln RI at 11:29 pm
- Destination: HYA Hyannis MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,200 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 pm from SFZ, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.