Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona, June 5, 1988
On June 5, 1988 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N2131N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE AN TEE FITTING, THEREBY ALLOWING THE OIL TO BE PUMPED OVERBOARD CAUSING THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OF THE TEE FITTING WAS CAUSED BY THE TIE WRAP USED TO SECURE THE LINE. THE TIE WRAP PULLED THE OIL LINE AND STRESSED ONE SIDE OF THE TEE FITTING. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE MECHANICS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE APPROVED PIPER PROCEDURES FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A OIL PRESSURE OPERATED HOBBS METER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1988 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Canyon, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N2131N · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7921045
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 517 hours in all; 370 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 411 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,702 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 1988; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1W1 Denver CO
- Destination: P06 Bullhead City AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 17 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from GCN, 7 miles away
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.