Piper PA-38 N2538N

Summary

On 15 August 1996 at about 00:45 local time, a Piper PA-38 registered N2538N was involved in an accident near Fairbury, Nebraska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 August 1996 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Fairbury, Nebraska, United States

Coordinates

40.0999, -96.9300

Aircraft

Piper PA-38

Registration

N2538N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Shenandoah

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI96LA298

Nobody was injured.

inadequate airspeed and an inadvertant stall during the initial takeoff climb. Factors associated with the accident were the rough terrain used for takeoff and the ditch at the departure end on the field.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot landed the airplane in a farm field after becoming disoriented and low on fuel. The student called his instructor who flew to a nearby airport. The student and instructor purchased fuel, refueled the airplane and attempted to takeoff from the rough farm field. They reported that when the airplane crossed over a ditch at the end of the field, the airplane settled, impacted the terrain and nosed over. The instructor stated he did not walk the field to check its condition prior to the takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.