Piper PA-28-161 accident near Yarmouth, Massachusetts, February 11, 1989
On February 11, 1989 at about 12:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N38529, was destroyed in an accident near Yarmouth, Massachusetts. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING WHICH RESULTED FROM BINDING OF THE CARBUERATOR THROTTLE SHAFT. THE BINDING RESULTED FROM AN IMPROPER OVERHAUL OF THE CARBUERTOR APPROXIMATELY 10 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 1989 · about 12:40 pm local time
- Place
- Yarmouth, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N38529 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7716266
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-28, WAS ON A 2 MILE RIGHT BASE LEG TO RUNWAY 24 AT HYANNIS AIRPORT, MA, AND HAD JUST REDUCED POWER WHEN THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION. THE PILOT FELT THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT, SO HE ATTEMPTED A LANDING ON A HIGHWAY. AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT TO TOUCH DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY THE LANDING GEAR HIT A CAR, KILLING A PASSENGER RIDING IN THE CAR. EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE SHAFT HAD SEIZED WITH THE THROTTLE PLATE IN THE CLOSED POSITION. EXAM OF SHAFT SCRATCHING AND GALLING AT THE BUSHING. TESTING OF THE BUSHING AND SHAFT REVEALED BOTH WERE MANUFACTURED OF THE SAME MATERIAL AND WERE BELOW THE HARDNESS SPECIFICATION OF THE CARBURETOR MANUFACTURER. THE CARBURETOR HAD BEEN MANUFACTURED APPROXIMATELY 10 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO 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
- Flight time: 80 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 46 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Taunton MA at 12:20 pm
- Destination: HYA Hyannis MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.