Piper PA-38-112 accident near Pawtucket, Rhode Island, August 29, 2003
On August 29, 2003 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2550A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pawtucket, Rhode Island (North Central State 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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2003 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pawtucket, Rhode Island · North Central State · 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
- N2550A · registry record · serial 38-78A0751
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was on final approach for a touch and go landing when he reduced the throttle slightly and the engine lost power. The airplane was about 350 feet above the ground, and he performed a forced landing into trees. The airplane came to rest inverted, about 1/2 mile from the airport. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 63 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,352 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 2003; 16 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: PVD Providence RI at 2:30 pm
- Destination: SFZ Pawtucket RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from SFZ
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.