Piper PA-38 accident near Marshfield, Massachusetts, May 4, 1986
On May 4, 1986 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38, registered N2389B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marshfield, Massachusetts (Marshfield). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 4, 1986 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marshfield, Massachusetts · Marshfield
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38 · all PA-38s on the register
- Registration
- N2389B · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS MAKING TOUCH AND GO'S ON RUNWAY 24 IN A PIPER TOMAHAWK. THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTH WEST AT 12 KNOTS. THE PILOTS REPORTED THE WING ROSE AND THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED LEFT WITH A GUST. HE STATED HE APPLIED POWER FOR A GO-AROUND, HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT GAIN ALTITUDE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NOTHING WRONG WITH THE AIRCRAFT THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE GO-AROUND. THE MAXIMUM DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND COMPONENT FOR THE PA-38 IS 15 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: student
- Flight time: 49 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,233 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 22, 1986; 9 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 24, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 10 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.