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Accidents · NTSB NYC84LA312 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-38-112 accident near Ellendale, Delaware, September 8, 1984

On September 8, 1984 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2414L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ellendale, Delaware (West Field). 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

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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
September 8, 1984 · about 5:00 pm local time · cases in 1984
Place
Ellendale, Delaware · West Field · 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
N2414L · registry record · serial 38-79A0698
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

DUE TO HIGH OIL TEMP THE SOLO STUDENT PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. DURING THE ROLLOUT A X-WIND FROM THE RIGHT RESULTED IN THE ACFT DRIFTING LEFT OFF THE RWY. THE LEFT WING STRUCK SOY BEAN PLANTS CAUSING THE ACFT TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT COLLAPSING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING 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: student
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 29 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,426 hours
  • Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 10, 1984; 0 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: Wilmington DE at 4:20 pm
  • Destination: Ellendale DE
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 9, 1,800 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 170° at 10 knots, gusting 12
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
  • Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Observation at 1:00 pm

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/NYC84LA312.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.