Piper PA-28-151 accident near Lajas, Puerto Rico, November 11, 1988
On November 11, 1988 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N4815F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lajas, Puerto Rico (Lajas (Pvt) airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- November 11, 1988 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lajas, Puerto Rico · Lajas (Pvt)
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N4815F · registry record · serial 28-7715069
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT FILLED THE FUEL TANKS, MADE THREE TOUCH-&-GO LANDINGS, THEN DEPARTED ON A X-COUNTRY FLT. AFTER APRX 1.5 HRS OF FLT, HE ELECTED TO REVERSE COURSE & LAND AT AN ALTERNATE ARPT SINCE HE HAD INADEQUATE FUEL TO REACH HIS DESTN. REALIZING THE FUEL SUPPLY WAS ALSO INADEQUATE TO REACH THE ALTERNATE, HE THEN ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A PVT AIRSTRIP. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A STEEL CABLE SUPPORTED BY A DRUM (ONE OF MANY STRUNG ACROSS THE RWY TO PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED USE). THE HOBBS METER INDICATED THE PLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN 4.5 HRS SINCE REFUELING.THE PLT STATED HE DID NOT PERFORM FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. THE LEFT & RIGHT FUEL TANKS WERE DRAINED & FOUND TO CONTAIN 1.8 & 2.6 GALLONS, RESPECTIVELY. UNUSABLE FUEL FOR EACH TANK WAS ONE GALLON.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,497 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 20, 1988; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SIG Sanjuan PR at 1:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Isla Mona PR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from TJMZ, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.