Piper PA-32 accident near Sand Point, Alaska, July 27, 1988
On July 27, 1988, a Piper PA-32, registered N493CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sand Point, Alaska (Sand Point airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person 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
- July 27, 1988
- Place
- Sand Point, Alaska · Sand Point · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32 · all PA-32s on the register
- Registration
- N493CA · registry record · serial 32346
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD HIGH OIL TEMP AND MODERATE VIBRATIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED AT SAND POINT AND A COMPANY MECHANIC ARRIVED TO INSPECT THE AIRCRAFT. THE OIL QUANTITY WAS CHECKED AND A RUN-UP PERFORMED. THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT NO PROBELMS WERE FOUND SO HE RELEASED THE AIRCRAFT FOR FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET M.S.L., THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO THE WATER ABOUT 300 FEET FROM SHORE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE AIRCRAFT SANK INTO 80 TO 90 FEET OF WATER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RECOVERED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 1,620 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.