Piper PA-28-180 accident near Wilmington, Ohio, May 30, 1989
On May 30, 1989 at about 2:20 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N8213W, was destroyed in an accident near Wilmington, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY AND HIS FAILURE TO REFUEL EN ROUTE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1989 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- Wilmington, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8213W · no longer on the register · serial 28-2346
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO PVT RATED PLTS AND TWO PAX DEPARTED MYRTLE BCH AT APPROX 1800. THEIR DESTINATION WAS APPROX 415 NM AND THE MAG HEADING WAS APPROX 324 DEGREES. THE WINDS ALOFT AT THE CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 8,500 FT WERE 290 DEGS AT 25 KTS. THE CALCULATED GROUNDSPEED WAS 83 KTS. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED WITH 50 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT APPROX 2220, ABOUT .5 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION ARPT. THE POST CRASH EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED 10 OUNCES OF FUEL IN EACH WING FUEL TANK.
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: 112 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 67 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,508 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 7, 1988; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRE Myrtle Beach SC at 10:00 pm
- Destination: I66
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 am from DAY, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.