# NTSB ATL88FA138: Piper PA-28-180, N32911, Bowling Green, KY, April 11, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 11, 1988, 15:23 local (20:23 UTC)
- Place: Bowling Green, KY
- Coordinates: 37.059871, -86.460548 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0599&lon=-86.4605&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7597
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88FA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7597/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88FA138

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - trim setting - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - descent - initiated, pilot in command
  - descent - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - anxiety/apprehension, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - psychological condition, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PILOT CALLED FSS ON WRONG FREQ. ANOTHER PILOT ANSWERED & PILOT REQ FSS FREQ. HE THEN CALLED FSS, RPTED ENG QUIT. WITNESS HEARD 'ENG STARTING' MOMENTARILY OVERHEAD, WATCHED ACFT PITCH OVER, DIVE TO GND & IMPACT WITH NO ATTEMPT TO FLARE FOR LNDING. PITCH TRIM WAS FULLY NOSE DOWN, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF PROPELLER ROTATION UNDER POWER AT IMPACT, & NO REASON FOUND TO PREVENT ENG RUNNING. PIC BACKGROUND CHECK SHOWED TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION, CONTINUOUS USE OF VALIUM TO SLEEP SINCE 1979, NERVOUS BREAKDOWN OF FATHER, FEAR OF NERVOUS BREAKDOWN HIMSELF, SEVERE SHORTAGES IN GOVT GRAIN IN HIS WAREHOUSE, & 1 MILLION DOLLAR INSURANCE TO WAREHOUSE. WHEN GOVT AUDITOR ARRIVED UNEXPECTEDLY, PIC LEFT WAREHOUSE, RENTED ACFT, TOOK OFF HURRIEDLY, & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED. WITNESSES REPORTED PILOT DID NOT PREFLT, DID NOT ACCOMPLISH A RUN-UP, AND TAXIIED AT HIGH SPEED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N32911](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32911-1991-04-12), registration cancelled 1991-04-12, S/N 287505102 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 287505102
- Airframe hours: 4100
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Williams Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 1988, 107 hours before
- Departed: M91, SPRINGFIELD, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 500 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BWG, 4 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880411009829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880411009829A), Apr 11, 1988: Piper PA28180, Bowling Green, KY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Forced landing due to fuel exhaustion. Crashed in rough terrain. No preflight or engine runup. No malfunction found

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.

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