Piper PA-28-151 accident near La Grange, Georgia, July 25, 1988
On July 25, 1988 at about 1:08 am local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N4506F, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Grange, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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 25, 1988 · about 1:08 am local time
- Place
- La Grange, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N4506F · no longer on the register · serial 28-7715043
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC STATED HE HAD A HARDOVER IN THE SINGLE AXIS AUTOPILOT WHICH RESULTED IN THE ACFT CONSTANTLY TURNING RIGHT. THEREFORE DUE TO THE CONTINOUS BANK HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A LAKE VERSUS ON LAND. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A LAKE LEFT OF THE PLANNED COURSE. THE ROLL SERVO WAS DESIGNED SO THAT WHEN POWER WAS REMOVED FROM THE SERVO A SPRING DISENGAGED THE SERVO FROM THE AILERON BRIDLE CABLE. THE SPRING WAS FOUND FUNCTIONAL AFTER RECOVERY OF THE ACFT FROM THE LAKE. WITNESSES RPTED SEEING THE ACFT FLYING ABOUT 10-15 FEET ABOVE THE LAKE SURFACE FOR ABOUT ONE QUARTER MILE. AS THE ACFT APPROACHED A BRIDGE IT PULLED UP ABRUPTLY, STALLED, AND IMPACTED THE WATER.
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: 280 hours in all; 245 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 254 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,038 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 1988; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 06A Tuskegee AL
- Destination: CCO Newnan GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.