Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-28R-200 N5140S

27 August 1988 · Gary, Indiana, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 27 August 1988 at about 02:30 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N5140S, operated by Boersma, Henry L., was involved in an accident near Gary, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 02:30
Classification
Accident
Location
Gary, Indiana, United States
Coordinates
41.5691, -87.2597
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-200
Registration
N5140S
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Boersma, Henry L.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Business
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Jenison → Lansing
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Night/Dark
NTSB number
CHI88LA220

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE POWERPLANT DUE TO AN OIL LEAK AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING INTO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE CRUISING OVER LAKE MICHIGAN AT NGT, A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE OCCURRED WHICH WAS QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE PLT PERFORMED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES & PREPARED FOR A FORCED LANDING. HE WAS ABLE TO GLIDE TO SHORE, BUT DUE TO 'INDUSTRIAL TERRAIN' ALONG THE SHORELINE, HE ELECTED TO DITCH THE ACFT IN LAKE MICHIGAN NEAR THE SHORE. AFTER DITCHING, HE EXITED THE ACFT & SWAM TO A BREAKWATER AND THE ACFT SANK. HE WAS RESCUED ABOUT 5 HRS LATER & WAS TREATED FOR HYPOTHERMIA. THE ACFT WAS FURTHER DAMAGED WHEN IT WAS RETRIEVED FROM THE LAKE. NO MECHANICAL REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-28R accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
2 Oct 1988 Piper PA-28R-201
N31386
Palmdale, California, United States - No injuries -
31 Aug 1988 Piper PA-28R-200
N15948
Charleston, West Virginia, United States - No injuries -
9 Feb 1988 Piper PA-28R-180
N3790T
Wis. Rapids, Wisconsin, United States - No injuries -
13 Nov 1988 Piper PA-28R-200
N32393
Melbourne, Florida, United States Flight Safety Int'l, Inc. No injuries -
4 Sep 1988 Piper PA-28R-200
N1281T
Charleston, Tennessee, United States 2 Genes AVN No injuries -
19 Nov 1988 Piper PA-28R-201T
N4306M
Van Nuys, California, United States Panzarino, Anthony V Minor injuries -

All 1,342 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
10 Jan 1988 Cessna 172K
N46701
Converse, Indiana, United States Quinn, Schafer, Ferris Serious injuries -
2 Oct 1988 Cessna 310Q
N8157Q
Tell City, Indiana, United States Morgan Aviation Serious injuries -
11 Oct 1988 Piper PA-28-181
N8112T
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Chas. W. Beene Minor injuries -
27 Jan 1988 Mooney M20A
N6072X
La Porte, Indiana, United States Davair, Inc. Minor injuries -
21 Oct 1988 Piper PA-24-250
N7733P
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Graves, Dorel No injuries -
14 Feb 1988 Cessna 172
N5499K
Ft. Wayne, Indiana, United States Bowman Aviation Inc No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States