Piper PA-28-181 accident near Danielson, Connecticut, November 26, 1988
On November 26, 1988 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8172P, was destroyed in an accident near Danielson, Connecticut (Danielson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO RECOGNIZE A STALL AND TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION PRIOR TO EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 1988 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Danielson, Connecticut · Danielson
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8172P · registry record · serial 28-8090262
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIPER MADE A TAKEOFF AND WAS THEN OBSERVED TO DROP ITS RIGHT WING AND VEER TO THE RIGHT STRIKING THE GROUND AND CARTWHEELING ON TOP OF A PARKED UNOCCUPIED CESSNA 172. THE FOUR OCCUPANTS OF THE PIPER ESCAPED PRIOR TO A FIRE WHICH STARTED ABOUT ONE MINUTE AFTER THE COLLISION AND DESTROYED BOTH AIRCRAFT. AN ON BOARD WITNESS SAID HE HEARD A HORN PRIOR TO THE WING DROPPING. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT REMEMBER THE HORN.
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: 300 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,223 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1988; 1,223 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 5B3 Danielson CT at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.