Piper PA-22-150 accident near Thomasville, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1988
On April 29, 1988 at about 4:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N3014Z, was destroyed in an accident near Thomasville, Pennsylvania (York Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING, HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF WITH HIS AIRCRAFT WEIGHT ABOVE THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT IN A HIGH UNFAVORABLE 90 DEGREE CROSSWIND, FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND COLLIDED WITH TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 1988 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Thomasville, Pennsylvania · York Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3014Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-6965
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF ON RWY 16 WITH LOCAL WINDS FROM 270-290 DEGS AT 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS. THE TAKEOFF WAS PERFORMED FROM AN INTERSECTION, 300 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RWY. AFTER CLIMBING APRX 25 FEET, THE ACFT ENTERED A LEFT TURN, CLIMBED TO APRX 100 FEET AGL AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. CALCULATIONS INDICATE THE ACFT WAS AT LEAST 71 LBS OVER MAX GROSS WT AT TAKEOFF. WEATHER INFO LISTED ABOVE IN THE DATA IS THE OFFICIAL WEATHER REPORTED 1 NM FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE.
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: 191 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 134 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,604 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 23, 1987; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: THV Thomasville PA at 4:05 pm
- Destination: CRE Myrtle Beach SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 4,190 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from THV, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.