Piper PA-38-112 accident near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, May 25, 1984
On May 25, 1984 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N25CK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williamsport, Pennsylvania (Williamsport 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).
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
- May 25, 1984 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Williamsport, Pennsylvania · Williamsport · 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
- N25CK · no longer on the register · serial 3881A0062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENGAGED IN STUDENT FLIGHT TRAINING; THE STUDENT WAS PERFORMING TOUCH AND GO LANDING IN SHIFTING, GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. A GUST HIT THE AIRCRAFT ON SHORT FINAL AND THE STUDENT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER CONTROL BEFORE A HARD LANDING AND BOUNCE OCCURRED. THE LOW TIME INSTRUCTOR PILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT TOO LATE TO PREVENT A SECOND HARD LANDING WHICH COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 321 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 163 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 5, 1984; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IPT Williamsport PA at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.