Piper PA-38-112 accident near New Castle, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1984
On August 14, 1984 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N4332E, was destroyed in an accident near New Castle, Pennsylvania (New Castle 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
- August 14, 1984 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- New Castle, Pennsylvania · New Castle
- 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
- N4332E · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0556
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFIED FLT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) STATED THAT HE WAS INSTRUCTING A 10 HOUR STUDENT PILOT. HE CONTINUED TO STATE THAT THEY WERE DOING TOUCH AND GO'S AND HAD APPLIED POWER FOR THE SECOND TAKEOFF WHEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE STUDENT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT AND APPLIED FULL RIGHT RUDDER (NOSEWHEEL STEERING). THE CFI APPLIED FULL LEFT RUDDER AND LEFT BRAKE WHILE RETARDING THE THROTTLE BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A DRAINAGE DITCH AND NOSED OVER.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 559 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 414 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,821 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,010 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.