Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Middlesboro, Kentucky 40965
Sunday, April 3, 1988 16:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT RECEIVED PREFLT WX BRIEFING THAT STATED VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED DUE TO LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AFFECTING PROPOSED FLT PATH. WX FORECAST INCLUDED TORNADOES, HAIL, THUNDERSTORMS TO 42,000', MODERATE RIME ICING, MODERATE TURBULENCE, WIND GUSTS TO 70 KTS, LOW CEILINGS AND POOR VISIBILITY. THE FLT DEPARTED VFR AND THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED 5 DAYS LATER IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE ACFT HAD COLLIDED WITH A MOUNTAIN AT APPROX 2,900' MSL. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL OR STRUCTURAL MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO THE IMPACT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/3/1988
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MIDDLESBORO
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 40965
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1650 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 317
Weather Observation Facility ID LOZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1212
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 39
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 7
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 7
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1044
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 8 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1715
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37052
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:40AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8171P
NTSB Number ATL88FA136
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32R-301T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-301
Aircraft Serial Number 32R8029053
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1051
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name COX MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 108 WEST SECOND
Aircraft Owner City RIDGEVILLE
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 47380
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name COX MANUFACTURING CO. INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 108 WEST 2ND STREET
Operator City RIDGEVILLE
Operator State IN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 47380
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code JES
Departure City JESUP
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code I22
Destination City WINCHESTER
Destination State IN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --