Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Elma, Washington, March 12, 1988
On March 12, 1988 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N8374C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elma, Washington (Elma Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- March 12, 1988 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Elma, Washington · Elma Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N8374C · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7635153
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLL THE PILOT APPLIED TOE BRAKES. THE RIGHT BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE AIRCRAFT THEN VEERED TO THE LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE DESPITE THE PILOTS ATTEMPT TO GROUNDLOOP THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ROLLED OVER AN EMBANKMENT, COLLAPSING THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR AND THE NOSE GEAR. THE RIGHT BRAKE DISC WAS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED IN THE AREA OF A WELD. THE BRAKE DISC WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN CORRODED. UNEVEN WEAR WAS EVIDENT ON THE DISC. THE BRAKE LININGS WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN WORN. 100 HOURS HAD BEEN FLOWN ON THE AIRCRAFT SINCE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED.
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: 1,550 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 1,475 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,750 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 14, 1987; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLS Centralia WA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: WA22 Elma WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,100 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.