Piper PA-28-181 accident near Keene, New Hampshire, September 26, 1988
On September 26, 1988 at about 6:18 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8289T, was destroyed in an accident near Keene, New Hampshire. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- September 26, 1988 · about 6:18 pm local time
- Place
- Keene, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8289T · no longer on the register · serial 288190079
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RECEIVED A HEAD INJ AND WAS NOT ABLE TO RELATE THE DETAILS OF THE ACDT. THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES ABOUT 3 MI SHORT OF THE LANDING RWY AT THE CONCLUSION OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLT. AN FAA INSP EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE AND REPORTED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SET ON THE RT FUEL TANK WHICH WAS EMPTY. FURTHER EXAM REVEALED THERE WAS NO FUEL IN ANY OF THE LINES BETWEEN THE FUEL SELECTOR AND THE ENG AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK SELECTED. THE LT WING BROKE OFF THE FUSELAGE DURING THE ACDT AND WAS HANGING IN A TREE AT THE TIME OF THE EXAMINATION. THE ENG WAS RUN AFTER THE ACDT AND NO EVIDENCE OF A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
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: 95 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: P.C.G. Air
The flight
- Departed from: MVY Marthasvineyard MA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: EEN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.