Piper PA-28-140 accident near W. Peru, Maine, May 29, 1988
On May 29, 1988 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N54368, was destroyed in an accident near W. Peru, Maine (Swans Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- May 29, 1988 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- W. Peru, Maine · Swans Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N54368 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7425109
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COCKPIT OF THE PIPER PA-28 FILLED WITH SMOKE AFTER TAKEOFF, AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 800 FT. THE PILOT TRIED TO LAND ON A ROAD AND STRUCK TREES, SHEARING OFF THE WINGS. THE FUSELAGE LANDED ON A ROAD, INVERTED AND WAS IMMEDIATELY ENFULFED IN FLAMES. THE STUDENT PILOT ESCAPED WITH NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED AS THE ENTIRE COCKPIT AREA WAS DESTROYED.
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: student
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1987; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.