- Date
- April 3, 1988, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Middlesboro, KY
- Injuries
- 7 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8171PPiper PA-32R-301T
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 11, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880403008109A
- Case key
- 7595
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8171P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32R-301T (PA-32R-301)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32R8029053
- Airframe hours
- 1,051
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Cox Manufacturing Co. Inc.
- Registered owner
- Cox Manufacturing Co., Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 1987
- Departed
- JES · Jesup, GA
- Destination
- I22 · Winchester, IN
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 852 total · 446 in this make and model · 805 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LOZ, 39 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.