Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Lake Wales, Florida, June 16, 1988
On June 16, 1988, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N4379A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Wales, Florida (Chalet Suzanne Air Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. 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
- June 16, 1988
- Place
- Lake Wales, Florida · Chalet Suzanne Air Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N4379A · registry record · serial 32R8529013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF FROM THE GRASS STRIP, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND WINGTIP COLLIDED WITH RUNWAY LIGHTS & A FENCEPOST. THE ACFT WAS SLOW TO CLIMB. AFTER CLEARING TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY, THE ACFT DESCENDED BELOW TREETOP LEVEL, THEN CONTINUED TO THE INTENDED DESTINATION. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT SLID TO A STOP. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED TREE TWIGS EMBEDDED IN SECTIONS OF THE TAIL.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 720 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 680 as pilot in command; 130 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 392 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 28, 1987; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MLB Melbourne FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,450 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N4379A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.