Piper PA-28-140 accident near Holyoke, Massachusetts, October 3, 1986
On October 3, 1986 at about 11:37 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N38688, was destroyed in an accident near Holyoke, Massachusetts (Barnes airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- October 3, 1986 · about 11:37 pm local time
- Place
- Holyoke, Massachusetts · Barnes
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N38688 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7725259
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SPECIAL VISUAL FLIGHT RULES ARRIVAL WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A ROCK FACE SLOPE 2 MILES EAST OF THE AIRPORT WHILE ON A EASTERLY HEADING. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED OVER 1 HOUR AFTER SUNSET. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE AN INSTRUMENT RATING. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED. A SPECIAL WEATHER OBSERVATION TAKEN RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT SHOWED THE WEATHER TO BE: ESTIMATED 400 FT BROKEN, 1400 FT OVERCAST. VISIBILITY 1 1/2 MILES WITH LIGHT RAIN AND FOG.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 230 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 190 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 13, 1986; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-ED3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 7B2 Northampton MA
- Destination: BAF Westfield MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:37 pm from BAF, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.