Plane Crash List

Piper PA-28-181 N21985

24 September 1988 · Orleans, Indiana, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 24 September 1988 at about 00:10 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N21985 was involved in an accident near Orleans, Indiana, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 00:10
Classification
Accident
Location
Orleans, Indiana, United States
Nearest airport
Orleans (7I4)
Coordinates
38.6600, -86.4505
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-181
Registration
N21985
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Decatur → Salem
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Night/Dark
NTSB number
CHI88LA247

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
4 0 0 0 4

Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE UTILITY POLE AND TRANSMISSION WIRE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE WERE THE PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE, TASK OVERLOAD, AND ANXIETY, STEMMING FROM A PARTIAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER, WHICH LED TO DISORIENTATION AND THE ATTEMPTED LANDING AT THE WRONG AIRPORT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, BECAME LOST AND ANXIOUS, AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT THE WRONG AIRPORT. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH THE LEFT LANDING GEAR STRUCK A UTILITY POLE AND THE LEFT WING TOUCHED A TRANSMISSION WIRE. THE PILOT RECOVERED AND CONTINUED TO HIS INTENDED DESTINATION, LANDING WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-28 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
11 Jun 1988 Piper PA-28-140
N44699
Lehighton, Pennsylvania, United States - Serious injuries -
1 Oct 1988 Piper PA-28
N9550W
Troutdale, Oregon, United States - Serious injuries -
17 Jun 1988 Piper PA-28-181
N82836
Reedville, Virginia, United States - No injuries -
29 Sep 1988 Piper PA-28-160
N5896W
Renton, Washington, United States Larry Dillon No injuries -
25 Jun 1988 Piper PA-28-180
N15986
Madeira Beach, Florida, United States Parras, GUY Fatal 2
16 Jan 1988 Piper PA-28-235
N8737W
Littlefield, Texas, United States - No injuries -

All 9,402 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
10 Jan 1988 Cessna 172K
N46701
Converse, Indiana, United States Quinn, Schafer, Ferris Serious injuries -
2 Oct 1988 Cessna 310Q
N8157Q
Tell City, Indiana, United States Morgan Aviation Serious injuries -
11 Oct 1988 Piper PA-28-181
N8112T
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Chas. W. Beene Minor injuries -
27 Jan 1988 Mooney M20A
N6072X
La Porte, Indiana, United States Davair, Inc. Minor injuries -
21 Oct 1988 Piper PA-24-250
N7733P
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Graves, Dorel No injuries -
14 Feb 1988 Cessna 172
N5499K
Ft. Wayne, Indiana, United States Bowman Aviation Inc No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States