# Accident 19880504054519A: Piper PA28181, Freeport, Bahamas, May 4, 1988

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 4, 1988, 12:00 local time
- Place: Freeport, Bahamas
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: N8068J, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8068J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-181 (registry code 7102807, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28181
- Reported engine: LYC O360A4M
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 517 total, 400 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA88LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA166) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880504054519A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA88LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA166), May 4, 1988: Piper PA-28-161 (N8068J), Freeport, Bahamas, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent encounter with adverse weather.

## Other reports on N8068J (2)

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

- [Incident 20260227005631I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260227005631I), Feb 27, 2026: Piper PA-28-181 (N8068J), Decatur, AL, Minor damage. Pilot taxied [privacy data omitted] into [privacy data omitted] with the intent to fly. Reported no damage to [privacy data omitted] and minor damage to…
- [Accident 20060408018889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060408018889A), Apr 8, 2006: Piper PA28181 (N8068J), Coalinga, CA, Substantial damage. (-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…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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