Piper PA-38-112 accident near Corvallis, Oregon, September 12, 1982
On September 12, 1982 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2535P, was destroyed in an accident near Corvallis, Oregon (Corvallis Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- September 12, 1982 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Corvallis, Oregon · Corvallis Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2535P · registry record · serial 38-79A1018
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT WHILE ON A LOW FINAL APPROACH, A SUDDEN DOWNDRAFT OF WINDSHEAR OCCURRED CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO DROP AND THE RIGHT WING TO HIT THE TOP OF A TREE. UPON IMPACT THE AIRCRAFT SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.
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: 950 hours in all; 308 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 874 as pilot in command; 300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,130 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero-Phsik, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CVO Corvallis OR at 1:15 pm
- Destination: CVO Corvallis OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,058 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 149°F (65°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.