Piper PA-38-112 accident near Newberg, Oregon, October 15, 2005
On October 15, 2005 at about 7:37 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N23887, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newberg, Oregon (Sportsman Airpark airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's failure to maintain airspeed while on approach for landing resulting in an inadvertent stall. Wind gusts, trees and an undetermined loss of engine power were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2005 · about 7:37 pm local time
- Place
- Newberg, Oregon · Sportsman Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N23887 · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A1062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that he and the student picked the day to practice crosswind landings. The flight instructor recalled a successful run up and departure. The next thing the flight instructor recalled was the student telling him to "take the airplane." The instructor does not recall anything after that. The student pilot reported that the flight stayed in the traffic pattern. One successful touch-and-go was accomplished followed by a go-around. The student pilot stated that during the climb out after the go-around, he turned the aircraft to cross-wind. During the turn toward downwind, the engine lost power. The student stated that he kept control of the airplane while the instructor went through a trouble shoot/restart sequence. The student then turned the airplane over to the flight instructor. The student does not recall anything after that point. Witnesses reported that the aircraft had been doing touch-and-go landings on runway 17. The aircraft was observed to pass over a building near the runway, pitch up and make a hard banking turn to the left before stalling and colliding with the building's parking lot. Another witness stated that after the accident, he heard the right seat occupant state, "sorry I just lost it." The aircraft collided with several objects before coming to rest about 55 yards from the initial ground impact. The nearest weather reporting facility was reporting a wind from 150 degrees at 19 knots at the time of the accident. No mechanical failure or malfunction was noted during the post-accident airframe and engine examination. Damage signatures found on the airplane's propeller were consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,280 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 89 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,086 as pilot in command; 418 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,216 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2005; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2S6 Newberg OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,745 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from MMV, 22 miles away
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.