Piper PA-28-140 accident near Cottage Grove, Oregon, September 17, 1988
On September 17, 1988 at about 3:45 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1223T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cottage Grove, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- September 17, 1988 · about 3:45 am local time
- Place
- Cottage Grove, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1223T · registry record · serial 28-7225425
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN PLT REALIZED STRONG HEADWINDS AT CRUISE ALT WOULD PRECLUDE REACHING INTENDED DESTINATION, HE ATTEMPTED TO DIVERT TO ANOTHER ALTERNATE. FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED BEFORE REACHING ARPT. DURING A LNDG, EXECUTED IN DARK, ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE.
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: 7,500 hours in all; 412 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 7,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,572 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 23, 1988; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV
- Destination: EUG Eugene OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 am from EUG, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.