Piper PA-28-181 accident near Lakeland, Florida, September 1, 1988
On September 1, 1988 at about 10:52 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered HBPLH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeland, Florida (Lakewood Municipal airport). It was a ferry 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
- September 1, 1988 · about 10:52 am local time
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · Lakewood Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- HBPLH · no longer on the register · serial 2890078
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A FERRY FLT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG SLOWLY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. HE THEN ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON ANOTHER RWY BUT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT & CRASHED SHORT. AN ENG RUN WAS ACCOMPLISHED WHICH REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,925 hours in all; 829 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 97 in the last 30 days; 11,553 as pilot in command; 52 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Globe Aero, LTD.
The flight
- Destination: BGR Bangor ME
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 am from LAL
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.