Piper PA-22-108 accident near Advance, North Carolina, October 24, 1988
On October 24, 1988 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-108, registered N5361Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Advance, North Carolina (Twin Lakes airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 24, 1988 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Advance, North Carolina · Twin Lakes · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-108 · all PA-22-108s on the register
- Registration
- N5361Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-9087
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB ENG QUIT THEN RE-STARTED. PIC TURNED TO THE NORTH & ENGINE QUIT AGAIN. PIC STALLED ACFT & CRASHED INTO WHEAT FIELD. ACFT HAD STC FOR AUTO GAS. FUEL IN ACFT HAD WATER & RUST CONTAMINANTS. FUEL LINES HAD DRIED. CARB HAD COMPOSITE FLOAT. THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE CARB THROAT WERE FOUND SOOTED. COMPOSITE FLOATS ARE NO LONGER MADE BY MANUFACTURER & AD REQUIRING THEM HAS BEEN RESCINDED. FAA ADVISORY CIRCULAR, FAA ACCIDENT PREVENTION PROGRAM, PIPER SVC BULLETIN & LYCOMING FLYER ALL POINT OUT LACK OF UNIFORM STANDARDS FOR AUTO GAS & PROBLEM OF INADEQUATE STANDARDS. FAA STATES AUTO GAS ALLOWS CARB ICE AT HIGHER TEMPS.
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: 434 hours in all; 2 in the last 90 days; 397 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,780 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,950 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.