Rockwell 114 accident near Palma, Kentucky, October 19, 1988
On October 19, 1988 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Rockwell 114, registered N4753W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palma, Kentucky. 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
- October 19, 1988 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Palma, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell 114
- Registration
- N4753W · no longer on the register · serial 14083
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DESCENDING TO TRAFFIC PATTERN ALTITUDE. THE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT CRASHED IN A FIELD. THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED AN INTERNAL MAGNETO TIMING OF 30 AND 27 DEGREES RESPECTIVELY. THE PRESCRIBED MAGNETO SETTING IS 25 DEGREES. THE BOTTOM SPARK PLUGS WERE WET WITH FUEL AFTER AN ENGINE RUN WAS COMPLETED. THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED ABOUT 165 HOURS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER THE OVERHAUL, PLATINUM TIP SPARK PLUGS WERE INSTALLED TO CORRECT A MAGNETO RPM DROP PROBLEM. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A ROUND BALE HAY HOLDER DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,745 hours in all; 341 in this make and model; 78 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,614 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,260 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 1988; 165 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,140 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-T4A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Paducah KY at 10:00 pm
- Destination: Gilbertville KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from PAH
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.