Piper PA-38-112 accident near Block Island, Rhode Island, October 8, 1983
On October 8, 1983 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9238T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Block Island, Rhode Island (Block Island airport). It was a personal 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).
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
- October 8, 1983 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Block Island, Rhode Island · Block Island
- 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
- N9238T · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0287
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL UNTIL THE ACFT WAS LANDED AT THE DESTINATION. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY & WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAM OF THE BRAKE SYS REVEALED THAT THE RESERVOIR STILL HAD FLUID. WHEN CHECKED, THE LEFT BRAKE WAS FIRM, BUT THE RIGHT BRAKE HAD NO PRESSURE, AN INSPECTION OF THE RIGHT BRAKE LINE REVEALED THAT A NUT & FERRULE WERE MISSING. THE NOSE & RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE ACCIDENT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Oxford CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.