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19880504054519A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-181 · Freeport, Bahamas · May 4, 1988

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

Date
May 4, 1988 · 12:00 local
Place
Freeport, Bahamas
Phase of flight
Normal Cruise
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N8068J
NTSB investigation
NTSBMIA88LA166
Reported as
Piper PA28181
Reported engine
Lycoming O360A4M
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
517 total400 in this make and model8 in the last 90 days
N8068JRegistered now · Piper PA-28-181S/N 28-8290084 · Built 1981Airframe modelPiper PA-28-181Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Flew too close to a thunderstorm. Severe turbulence wrinkled wings. Completed trip and returned before noting damage

As the FAA filed it

FLEW TOO CLOSE TO A THUNDERSTORM. SEVERE TURBULENCE WRINKLED WINGS.COMPLETED TRIP AND RETURNED BEFORE NOTING DAMAGE

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA88LA166Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportFreeport, BahamasThe pilot's inadvertent encounter with adverse weather.May 4, 1988 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8068J · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20260227005631ITaxi · Decatur, ALPilot taxied [privacy data omitted] into [privacy data omitted] with the intent to fly. Reported no damage to [privacy data omitted] and minor damage to [privacy data omitted]. No injuries reported.Feb 27, 2026 · Minor damageAccident 20060408018889ALevel Off Touchdown · Coalinga, CA(-23) The aircraft was landing at Harris Ranch Airport when the pilot reported a cross wind as he touched down. The nose landing gear collapsed and bent aft causing damage to the firewall and lower fuselage just aft of the firewall. The pilot lost directional…Apr 8, 2006 · Substantial damage