Piper PA-32-300 accident near New Bedford, Massachusetts, April 26, 1998
On April 26, 1998 at about 2:30 am local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N15326, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Bedford, Massachusetts (New Bedford Regional Apt. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's impairment due to alcohol, which resulted in an inadequate preflight examination and subsequent takeoff with a control lock installed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 1998 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- New Bedford, Massachusetts · New Bedford Regional Apt.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N15326 · no longer on the register · serial 32-7340038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness observed the airplane depart Runway 5 and climb at a steep angle. The aircraft then turned to the northwest, then to the northeast, and descended steeply to the ground. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed a control lock device, with a locked pad lock, installed on the right hand flight control column. Toxicological testing revealed 155 mg/dL (0.155%) ethanol detected in the pilot's blood, 187 mg/dL ethanol detected in the vitreous, and 205 mg/dL ethanol detected in the urine. A review of 14 CFR Part 91.17, stated, '(a) No Person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft...(4) While having a .04 percent by weight or more alcohol in the blood.'
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: 958 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days; 850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 3, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EWB at 2:29 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 4,997 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 am from EWB
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.