Piper PA-28-150 accident near Wall Township, New Jersey, August 21, 1988
On August 21, 1988 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-150, registered N5474W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wall Township, New Jersey. 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INCAPACITATION OF THE PILOT DUE TO A HEART ATTACK AND AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN TREES BY A NON-PILOT PASSENGER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1988 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wall Township, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-150 · all PA-28-150s on the register
- Registration
- N5474W · no longer on the register · serial 28-556
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT PILOT OF A PIPER PA-28-150 TOOK OFF WITH ONE PASSENGER AND FEW MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, HE BECAME UNCONSCIOUS. THE PASSENGER GAVE THE PILOT MOUTH TO MOUTH RESUSCITATION; HOWEVER, THE PILOT WAS NOT REVIVED. THE NON-PILOT PASSENGER ATTEMPTED AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING AND STRUCK TREES. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE UNCONSCIOUS PILOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT WHERE ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO REVIVE HIM. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL MEDICAL FACILITY WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD. THE PILOT HAD BEEN UNDER TREATMENT FOR HYPERTENSION (HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE). AN AUTOPSY SHOWED SEVERE OCCLUSION OF HIS CORONARY ARTERIES. TOXICOLOGY TEST REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF VERAMPAMIL, A CARDIAC MEDICATION WHICH HAD BEEN PRESCRIBED. THE PASSENGER HAD NO PREVIOUS FLYING EXPERIENCE.
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: 205 hours in all; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 117 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2N8 Matawan NJ at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 2N8
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.