Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-32-260 N9346C

8 September 1988 · Watertown, Wisconsin, United States · Serious injuries

Summary

On 8 September 1988 at about 16:45 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N9346C, operated by Air Water Town, was involved in an accident near Watertown, Wisconsin, United States. 5 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured, 2 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 16:45
Classification
Accident
Location
Watertown, Wisconsin, United States
Coordinates
43.1907, -88.7204
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-260
Registration
N9346C
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Air Water Town
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Watertown → Sault St. Marie
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
CHI88LA232

People

3 people were seriously injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
5 0 3 2 0

Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER SELECTION OF THE FUEL TANK, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT PLANNED A CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP WITH PASSENGERS AND BECAUSE OF THEIR WEIGHT, HE ELECTED TO NOT FILL THE OUTBOARD TANKS WITH FUEL. HE TOOK OFF WITH THE EMPTY RIGHT OUTBOARD TANK SELECTED AND FUEL STARVATION OCCURRED AT 200' AGL. THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO AVOID POWER LINES AND TREES WHEN THE ACFT STALLED AND DESCENDED TO TERRAIN IMPACT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-32 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
1 Jul 1988 Piper PA-32-300
N1954H
Akron, New York, United States REX Miller Flying Service No injuries -
27 May 1988 Piper PA-32-300
N30289
Scottsdale, Arizona, United States West Valley Flying Club No injuries -
23 Nov 1988 Piper PA-32-300
N4194W
Meadows of Dan, Virginia, United States Jerry M. Jones Fatal 1
18 May 1988 Piper PA-32-260
N897P
Skwentna, Alaska, United States - Fatal 3
24 Nov 1988 Piper PA-32-260
N3662W
Marquette, Michigan, United States Northern Airmotive Partners Serious injuries -
28 Jan 1988 Piper PA-32-260
N1246T
Colorado Spring, Colorado, United States - No injuries -

All 1,695 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
10 Nov 1988 British JS-3101
N333PX
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States Express Airlines 1, Inc No injuries -
22 Dec 1988 Aerospatiale ATR-42
N427MQ
Mosinee, Wisconsin, United States Simmons Airlines No injuries -
3 Jan 1988 Piper PA-22
N863A
Stanley, Wisconsin, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
24 Jan 1988 Cessna 172N
N75716
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
23 Jan 1988 Bellanca 17-30
N7377V
Barron, Wisconsin, United States - No injuries -
9 Feb 1988 Piper PA-28R-180
N3790T
Wis. Rapids, Wisconsin, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States