Piper PA-28 accident near High Point Lake, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1990
On July 8, 1990 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N3776R, was destroyed in an accident near High Point Lake, Pennsylvania (High Point Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF CONTROL UPON TOUCHDOWN AND DURING THE GO AROUND, WHICH RESULTED IN UNCONTROLLED CONTACT WITH THE WINDSOCK AND A ROCK QUARRY. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE EXCESSIVE SPEED OF THE AIRCRAFT (REPORTED 80 KNOTS) UPON INITIAL TOUCHDOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1990 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- High Point Lake, Pennsylvania · High Point Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N3776R · no longer on the register · serial 28-5819
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AT A REPORTED SPEED OF 80 KNOTS ON A 1900 FOOT HARD, BUMPY RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRCRAFT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE, AND HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE WINDSOCK AND CARRIED IT ON THE LEFT WING. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED FOR 1/4 MILE, OVER A SLIGHT RISE, AND CAME TO REST IN A ROCK QUARRY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE THREE OCCUPANTS RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANP Annapolis MD at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 1,900 ft by 16 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.