Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Holly Springs, Mississippi, November 20, 1988
On November 20, 1988, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N4908F, was destroyed in an accident near Holly Springs, Mississippi (Holly Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 20, 1988
- Place
- Holly Springs, Mississippi · Holly Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4908F · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7680486
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER HE BEGAN A DESCENT FROM 12,000 FT TO 4000 FT, THE ACFT LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF THE ALTERNATOR. WHILE APCHG TO LAND AT HOLLY SPRINGS ARPT, THE ACFT ENCTRD UNFAVORABLE WINDS & TURBULENCE. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT LOST AIRSPEED & ALTITUDE, THEN CRASHED AFTER COLLIDING WITH TREES & POWER LINES. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE WIND WAS SHEARING 10 TO 15 KTS.
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: 454 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 383 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 160 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Donald Carr Ins. Assoc.,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: CTJ Carrollton GA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: MEM Memphis TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; not recorded at 700 ft
- Temperature: 136°F (58°C), dew point 136°F (58°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.