Piper PA-28-140 accident near Doylestown, Pennsylvania, April 4, 1993
On April 4, 1993 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5338W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Doylestown, Pennsylvania (Doylestown airport). 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 1993 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Doylestown, Pennsylvania · Doylestown
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5338W · no longer on the register · serial 28-396
- 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 PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. ON THE LANDING THAT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, THE PILOT HAD ELECTED TO MAKE A GO AROUND. THE AIRPLANE REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 75 FEET. THE PILOT SAID HE, '...THEN ENTERED A POWER ON CROSS CONTROL STALL...' AND TURNED 180 DEGREES BACK TOWARDS THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND WITH THE LEFT WING.
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: 27 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,479 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 1992; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.