Piper PA-34-200 accident near Laconia, New Hampshire, December 7, 1988
On December 7, 1988 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200, registered N16502, was substantially damaged in an accident near Laconia, New Hampshire. It was a personal 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
AIRCRAFT STRIKING THE ROAD SIGN AFTER THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A DOUBLE POWER LOSS DUE TO MISMANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 1988 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Laconia, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200 · all PA-34-200s on the register
- Registration
- N16502 · registry record · serial 34-7350135
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT MADE A TAKEOFF WITH KNOWN CONDITIONS OF A LOW BATTERY AND WITH 15 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK AND 30 GALLONS IN THE RIGHT TANK. WHILE CRUISING AT 7500 FEET HE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS ON THE LEFT ENGINE. THE PILOT PERFORMED THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND WAS UNABLE TO GET A RESTART. HE FEATHERED THE PROPELLER AND SET UP CROSSFEED. THE RIGHT ENGINE QUIT A FEW SECONDS LATER AND AGAIN THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO GET IT RESTARTED AND IT T00 WAS FEATHERED. BOTH FUEL SELECTORS AT THIS TIME WERE ON CROSSFEED. THEY WERE RESET TO TANK-TO-ENGINE AND THE PILOT TRIED TO RESTART THE RIGHT ENGINE BUT WAS UNABLE DUE TO THE LOW BATTERY. AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING WAS MADE ON A ROADWAY. POST CRASH EXAMINATION SHOWED FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND NO FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK. THE PILOT HAD FAILED HIS MULTI ENGINE CHECKRIDE 2-1/2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND DID NOT PASS HIS CHECKRIDE UNTIL 2 MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,150 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MPV Montpelier VT at 7:00 pm
- Destination: MHT Manchester NH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from LCI, 3 miles away
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.