Piper PA-28-161 accident near Groveland, Florida, September 26, 1988
On September 26, 1988 at about 5:23 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N4365D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Groveland, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 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 26, 1988 · about 5:23 pm local time
- Place
- Groveland, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N4365D · registry record · serial 28-8416105
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE TREES AT THE END OF THE RWY WHILE ON INITIAL CLIMB AFTER SUSTAINING COMPLETE ENG FAILURE. FAA PERSONNEL ATTEMPTED TO TEST RUN THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DUE SO DUE TO AN AIR LEAK ON THE GASCOLATOR. WHEN UPWARD PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE GASCOLATOR TO SEAL THE AIR LEAK, NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION WAS ACHIEVED. FAA PERSONNEL STATED THAT THEY FELT THE LEAKAGE WAS DUE TO A WORN SEAL & NOT A RESULT OF IMPACT DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 4,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,700 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 15, 1988; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Orr Leasing, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: X42
- Destination: OCF Ocala FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from ORL, 27 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.