Piper PA-22-150 accident near Hawthorne, Nevada, June 3, 1988
On June 3, 1988 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N3741P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hawthorne, Nevada (Hawthorne Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 1988 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hawthorne, Nevada · Hawthorne Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3741P · no longer on the register · serial 22-3461
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A GO-AROUND DUE TO THE PILOT HAVING DIFFICULTY LANDING WITH A GUSTING CROSSWIND, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BARBED WIRE FENCE WITH THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AND A FENCE POST WITH THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE AIRCRAFT THEN CROSSED A ROAD AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000 FEET.
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: 183 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,236 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1987; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBP San Luis Obispo CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: HTH Hawthorne NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,550 ft by 130 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 pm from HTH
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.