Amateur-built S-2A accident near Warren, Vermont, April 23, 1982
On April 23, 1982 at about 8:15 pm local time, a amateur-built S-2A, registered N388N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warren, Vermont (Warren airport). It was a personal 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
- April 23, 1982 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Warren, Vermont · Warren
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S-2A
- Registration
- N388N · no longer on the register · serial 2170
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT BEFORE LANDING, HE NOTICED HEAVY WIND SHEAR WHILE ON DOWNWIND AND BASE. REPORTEDLY, HE ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE SINK AFTER TURNING FROM BASE TO FINAL APPROACH. HE ADDED FULL POWER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE DESCENT BEFORE CONTACTING THE GROUND HARD, SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT THE SURFACE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 35 KNOTS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,960 hours in all; 2,102 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 4,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 313 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 313 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Parker Aviation Enterprise
The flight
- Departed from: Warren VT at 3:10 pm
- Destination: Warren VT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,700 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 28 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 118°F (48°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.