Piper PA-38-112 accident near Grove City, Pennsylvania, August 5, 1986
On August 5, 1986 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N91356, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grove City, Pennsylvania (Grove City 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 5, 1986 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Grove City, Pennsylvania · Grove City · 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
- N91356 · no longer on the register · serial 38-82A0006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) RPRTD THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AFTER CLIMBING OUT OF GND EFFECT, THE ACFT SEEMED TO LVL OFF & STOP CLIMBING. HE TOOK CONTROL FM THE STUDENT & PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE INSTRUMENTS, BUT NO SPECIFIC ABNORMALITY WAS DETERMINED. HE CHECKED THAT THE THROTTLE & MIXTURE WERE FULL FORWARD & APPLIED CARB HEAT TO CHECK FOR CARB ICE. THE STALL WARNING SOUNDED, SO HE MOVED THE CARB HEAT OFF & EXTENDED ONE NOTCH OF FLAPS. THE ACFT BEGAN DSCNDG & SUBSEQUENTLYIT HIT TREES & CRASH LANDED IN A SMALL 'OVERGROWN' FIELD. A POST-ACCIDENT EXAM & ENG RUN REVEALED ONE MAGNETO HAD A DEFECTIVE COIL & WAS INOP. NO OTHER PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE CFI HAD A TOTAL FLT TIME OF 355.4 HRS.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 355 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 97 in the last 90 days; 257 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,167 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 1986; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 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.