Piper PA-28R-201 accident near Pomfret, Connecticut, August 28, 1988
On August 28, 1988 at about 2:24 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-201, registered N3478M, was destroyed in an accident near Pomfret, Connecticut. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 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
- August 28, 1988 · about 2:24 am local time
- Place
- Pomfret, Connecticut
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N3478M · no longer on the register · serial 7837116
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIPER ARROW PA-28R-201, HAD ASKED ATC FOR VECTORS TO WINDAM AIRPORT. AFTER BEING VECTORED THE PILOT REQUESTED HIS DISTANCE FROM THE AIRPORT. HE WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS 12 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT THEN DECIDED TO DESCEND. ATC ADVISED THE PILOT TO DESCEND AT PILOTS DESCRETION AND TO MAINTAIN VFR. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AT ABOUT 2100 FEET. WHEN ATC TRIED TO CONTACT THE PILOT AND ADVISE HIM THAT RADAR CONTACT HAD BEEN LOST, THERE WAS NO REPLY. WEATHER IN THE AREA WAS IMC AND THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN A WOODED AREA, IN AN ALMOST VERTICAL ATTITUDE. NOTHING WAS FOUND TO INDICATE ANY MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT.
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: 122 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 24 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EEN Keene NH at 1:25 am
- Destination: 5B0 Windham Arpt CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.