Piper PA-28-140 accident near Pawling, New York, November 14, 1988
On November 14, 1988 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N54394, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pawling, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN UNSUITALBE TERRAIN FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS CAUSED BY LOSS OF LUBRICATION DUE TO SPALLING ON THE CAMSHAFT AND CORRESPONDING TAPPET BODY FACES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 1988 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pawling, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N54394 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7425119
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS AND MADE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING. DURING THE INVESTIGATION THE ENGINE WAS TORN DOWN AND FOUR INTAKE LOBES AND ONE EXHAUST LOBE ON THE CAMSHAFT WITH THEIR CORRESPONDING TAPPET BODY FACES WERE SEVERELY SPALLED. METAL WAS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE.
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: 421 hours in all; 369 in this make and model; 83 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 378 as pilot in command; 10 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,682 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 1987; 164 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWN Shirley NY at 10:15 pm
- Destination: POV Poughkepsie NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°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.