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Casualties unknown

PA-38 Involved in Spin During Biennial Flight Review (N2495L)

Inman, KS, US

On March 5, 1994, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N2495L) was involved in an aviation accident near Inman, KS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: AN UNINTENTIONAL SPIN WHICH OCCURRED DURING THE MANEUVERING PHASE OF A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE AIRPLANE'S LATERAL-DIRECTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS AT OR NEAR THE STALL SPEED. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A Piper PA-38 spun 5-6 turns left during a biennial flight review, stopping rotation just before ground impact. The aircraft has a higher stall/spin accident rate than comparable trainers despite stall strips.

Flight Purpose

The flight was conducted to provide a biennial flight review for a private pilot with approximately 100 hours of total flight time.

Accident Sequence

Witnesses observed the airplane execute a spin of five or six rotations to the left. The rotation stopped just before the airplane struck the ground.

Pilot Actions

The spin is believed to have occurred inadvertently while the private pilot was demonstrating a stall or slow flight maneuver.

Aircraft Characteristics

The accident aircraft was a Piper PA-38. The model is equipped with four non-adjustable stall strips designed to improve its lateral-directional characteristics. Despite this feature, the PA-38's stall/spin accident rate is significantly higher than that of comparable trainer-type airplanes.

Investigation Status

No further details from the investigation have been released at this time.

Loss of control in flight

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 5 Mar 1994 Piper PA-38-112 accident near Inman, KS?

A Piper PA-38 spun 5-6 turns left during a biennial flight review, stopping rotation just before ground impact. The aircraft has a higher stall/spin accident rate than comparable trainers despite stall strips.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 5 Mar 1994 involved a Piper PA-38-112, registration N2495L, at Inman, KS.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

AN UNINTENTIONAL SPIN WHICH OCCURRED DURING THE MANEUVERING PHASE OF A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE AIRPLANE'S LATERAL-DIRECTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS AT OR NEAR THE STALL SPEED.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001206X00857. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.