Piper PA-28-181 accident near Jamestown, New York, April 30, 1988
On April 30, 1988 at about 3:08 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N5688V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jamestown, New York (Jamestown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person 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
- April 30, 1988 · about 3:08 am local time
- Place
- Jamestown, New York · Jamestown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N5688V · no longer on the register · serial 28-7790497
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIPER PA-28-181 DEPARTED WITH TWO PILOTS ONBOARD. ABOUT ONE HOUR AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PIC GOT VERY SICK AND COULD NOT CONTINUE FLYING. SHE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE HEADACHE AND VOMITTING. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT CONTINUED THE FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT MADE ONE APPROACH TO A AIRPORT, BUT MISSED DUE TO WEATHER. WHILE EN ROUTE TO ANOTHER ARPT, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND MADE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING IN A WOODED AREA. THE PIC HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO TAKEOFF THAT INCLUDED FORECAST ICING CONDITIONS WHICH WERE ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANY DE-ICE EQUIPMENT OTHER THAN A HEATED PILOT TUBE.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 376 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 207 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 6, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mcguire Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: WRI Wrightstown NJ at 11:00 pm
- Destination: IAG Niagara Falls NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25, 5,299 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:17 am from JHW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.
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.