Piper PA-38-112 accident near Monroeville, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1992
On October 25, 1992 at about 8:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2503L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monroeville, Pennsylvania (Monroeville airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS DURING LANDING, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT DEPARTURE FROM THE RUNWAY AND COLLISION WITH TREES. FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE UNFAVORABLE WINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 1992 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Monroeville, Pennsylvania · Monroeville · 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
- N2503L · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0736
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 05. HE SAID, 'I HAD TO GO-AROUND SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE WIND DIRECTION WAS ERRATIC....ONCE TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED, THE AIRPLANE IMMEDIATELY VEERED LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY.' THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES. THE RUNWAY WIDTH IS 28 FEET. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 56 HOURS. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 330 DEGREES AT 14 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 22 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 56 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,758 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 1992; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 22G Lorain OH at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 5, 2,280 ft by 28 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.