Aircraft record

N2553A1978 Piper PA-38-112

DeregisteredUnclaimedSource: FAA, updated Oct 20, 2026

This N-number isn't registered right now. Below is its last known registration, canceled Mar 19, 2015.

Safety record in brief:1 NTSB accident (destroyed damage, Oct 1984)1 AD may apply

Registration: Deregistered
Last based in: Morganton, NC; owner city / state
Engine: 0-235 SERIES · 115 hp; Lycoming
Owners: 1; since 1978
NTSB events: 1; destroyed, 1984
ADs may apply: 1; confirm with A&P
Service reports: 0; since 1995

Registration

FAA Aircraft Registry · Oct 20, 2026

Last registered owner: Western Carolina Aviation INC
Owner type: Corporation
City, state: Morganton, NC
Certificate issued: Dec 12, 1978
Canceled: Mar 19, 2015
Airworthiness: Standard · Normal, Utility
Airworthiness date: Nov 3, 1978

We never show street addresses, even though they appear in the public FAA file. Individual owners are shown by city and state only.

Airframe & engine

FAA Registry + type data

Airframe

Manufacturer: Piper
Model: PA-38-112
Year: 1978
Serial number: 38-78A0754
Aircraft type: Fixed wing single engine
Category: Land
Certification: Type Certificated
Seats: 2
Engines: 1
Max takeoff weight: Up to 12,499 lb
Mode S code: A26CD3

Engine

Make and model: Lycoming 0-235 Series
Type: 4 Cycle
Power: 115 hp

Total time and engine hours aren't public. They appear here once the owner adds logbooks.

Ownership history

Ownership history from FAA records

1978 – 2015Western Carolina Aviation INCMorganton, NC

Individual owners are shown by city and state only.

Safety record

NTSB · Oct 15, 2026 · FAA ADs · Oct 20, 2026 · SDRs · Oct 16, 2026

NTSB events (1)

Accident · destroyed

Oct 11, 1984 · Morgantown, NC

N2553A WAS IN TRAFFIC PATTERN CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. N32828 WAS MANEUVERING BELOW THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND WAS SEEN CLIMBING IN DIRECTION OF N2553A. N32828 WAS FLYING WESTERLY INTO THE SUN. N2553A WAS SEEN IN A SHALLOW LEFT TURN FROM CROSSWIND TO DOWNWIND. THE RIGHT OUTBOARD WING PANEL OF N2553A AND THE LEFT OUTBOARD WING PANEL OF N32828 COLLIDED.

Damage: Destroyed
Injuries: Fatal
Report: ATL85FA007

From NTSB records; matched by serial number.Read NTSB report (search CAROL for ATL85FA007)

Accident history for this model

ADs published since 1998 that may apply (1)

These match the airframe or engine model. Whether each one applies, and whether it's been complied with, depends on serial numbers, equipment and logbook entries. Applicability must be confirmed by a mechanic against the aircraft's records.

AD	Subject	Effective	Applies to
98-03-16	The New Piper Aircraft Corporation Model PA-38-112 Airplanes	Mar 16, 1998	Airframe (PA-38-112)Certain serial numbers: PA-38-112 38-80A0166–38-82A0122

AI-extracted — verify against original. Matched from each AD's applicability section; ADs replaced by a later AD are left out.

Service Difficulty Reports (0)

No Service Difficulty Reports found for this airframe since 1995.

Sources

FAA Aircraft RegistryRegistration, owner city and state, airframe, engineupdated Oct 20, 2026
NTSB accident and incident databaseAccidents and incidents since 1982updated Oct 15, 2026
FAA Airworthiness Directives (Federal Register)ADs published since 1998updated Oct 20, 2026
FAA Service Difficulty ReportsReports since 1995updated Oct 16, 2026

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