Piper PA-34-200T accident near Valdosta, Georgia, May 21, 1986
On May 21, 1986 at about 9:15 am local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N2850S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valdosta, Georgia (Valdosta airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1986 · about 9:15 am local time
- Place
- Valdosta, Georgia · Valdosta · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N2850S · no longer on the register · serial 34-7970287
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE PILOT DID NOT FEATHER THE PROPELLER. A TRAFFIC PATTERN WAS FLOWN WITH THE AIRCRAFT IN A CONTINUOUS DESCENT. INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE REMAINED TO MANEUVER THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RUNWAY, SO THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON LEVEL GROUND NEAR THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. JUST BEFORE LANDING, HE EXTENDED THE GEAR, THEN THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD WHICH SHEARED OFF THE LANDING GEAR. NO FUEL WAS FOUND FORWARD OF THE FIRE WALL IN THE FUEL LINE TO THE LEFT ENGINE. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN STARVATION OF FUEL TO THE LEFT ENGINE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,300 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 189 in the last 90 days; 17,100 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1986; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-EB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VLD
- Destination: Sarasota FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35, 6,302 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 am from VLD, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.