Piper PA-38-112 accident near Williamstown, New Jersey, February 5, 1988
On February 5, 1988 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2352N, was destroyed in an accident near Williamstown, New Jersey (Cross Keys airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- February 5, 1988 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Williamstown, New Jersey · Cross Keys
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2352N · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0802
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED RUNWAY 27 AT CROSS KEYS AIRPORT AND UPON REACHING 250 FEET ALTITUDE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND BEGAN VIBRATING. THE PILOT MANEUVERED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH IT. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A YARD ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE PLT HAD JUST PICKED UP THE AIRPLANE AFTER A 100-HOUR INSPECTION (WHICH INCLUDED A WASH) IN THE HOUR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. HE HAD PURCHASED THE USED AIRPLANE ABOUT 1 WEEK EARLIER. EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT MOISTURE HAD PERMEATED THE IGNITION SYSTEM.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,450 hours in all; 1,670 in this make and model; 248 in the last 90 days; 2,342 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,340 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 4, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wilshire Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Cross Keys NJ at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N2352N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.