Piper PA-32-300 accident near Easton, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1988
On October 21, 1988 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N56813, was substantially damaged in an accident near Easton, Pennsylvania (Easton airport). It was a ferry 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
LANDING SHORT OF THE RUNWAY DUE TO A POWER LOSS OF UNKNOWN REASON(S).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 1988 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Easton, Pennsylvania · Easton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N56813 · no longer on the register · serial 32-7440028
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED 15OO FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A FENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED A POWER LOSS ON FINAL APPROACH. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DISCLOSED FUEL IN THE TANKS. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN SATISFACTORILY. NO EXPLANATION FOR THE REPORTED POWER LOSS COULD BE 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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3,200 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1988; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tri State Airways, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 47N Manville NJ at 1:00 pm
- Destination: N43 Easton PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,950 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°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.