Piper PA-28-180 accident near Arlington, Virginia, May 12, 1988
On May 12, 1988 at about 6:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered CGGNH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arlington, Virginia (Washington Natl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- May 12, 1988 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Virginia · Washington Natl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- CGGNH · no longer on the register · serial 28-7505068
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF ENG POWER ABOUT 7 MILES SHORT OF THE DESTINATION NECESSITATING A FORCED LANDING IN A SCHOOLYARD. THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN ABOUT 4.4 HRS SINCE IT WAS LAST REFUELED. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED LESS THAN A GALLON OF FUEL ABOARD. THE PLT SAID HE USED ABOUT 60 PERCENT POWER AT 7500 FT MSL DURING THE FLIGHT. THIS COMPUTES TO ABOUT 7 GPH FUEL FLOW. THE PLT SAID HE LEANED THE FUEL MIXTURE UNTIL ENG RPM DROPPED AND THEN ENRICHED UNTIL THE PREVIOUS RPM SETTING WAS RESTORED. THE CARB HEAT WAS FOUND IN THE ON POSITION ALTHOUGH THE PLT SAID HE DID NOT OPERATE IT WHEN POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THIS WAS THE PLT FIRST FLIGHT IN THIS MODEL/SERIES ACFT AFTER RECEIVING A 0.4 HRS CHECKOUT IN IT.
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: 147 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 77 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,161 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 1988; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Oshawa Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: BUF Buffalo NY at 3:40 pm
- Destination: DCA Washington DC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 5,189 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:42 pm from DCA, 6 miles away
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.