Piper PA-28-140 accident near Deane, Kentucky, November 9, 1988
On November 9, 1988 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N98185, was destroyed in an accident near Deane, Kentucky. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- November 9, 1988 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Deane, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N98185 · no longer on the register · serial 28-26091
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE TO WISE, VIRGINIA FROM RICHMOND, KENTUCKY ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ON ROCKHOUSE MOUNTAIN. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE VICINITY OF THE SEPARATED LEFT WING/RUPTURED TANK. THE RIGHT WING WAS COMPLETELY SEVERED FROM THE FUSELAGE, HOWEVER, THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS INTACT AND CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY FOUR GALLONS OF FUEL. DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE PRECLUDED A TEST STAND RUN, HOWEVER, NO MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES OR MALFUNCTIONS WERE NOTED DURING TEARDOWN EXAMINATION. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT WAS CIRCLING AROUND THE PASSENGER'S HOUSE SO THAT HE COULD OBSERVE IT FROM THE AIR.
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: 252 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 219 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,583 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 1988; 165 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I39 Richmond KY
- Destination: LNP Wise VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.