Piper PA-28-180 accident near Columbus, Georgia, June 19, 1986
On June 19, 1986 at about 3:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N103EF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Georgia (Columbus Metro airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- June 19, 1986 · about 3:25 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Georgia · Columbus Metro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N103EF · no longer on the register · serial 28-3433
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST AS THE AIRCRAFT FLARED FOR LANDING, A GUST OF WIND STRUCK THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BALLOONED UP SEVERAL FEET, AND THE RIGHT WING DIPPED. THE PILOT GOT THE WINGS LEVEL AND ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED RIGHT AND STRUCK THE GROUND, A POWER TRANSFORMER AND FIVE CARS BEFORE COMING TO A HALT. A REVIEW OF THE CONTINUOUS PRINT OUT OF THE WIND VELOCITY AT THE AIRPORT SHOWED A GUST OF WIND AT THE REPORTED TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER REPORTED SEEING THE STALL WARNING LIGHT ON AFTER THE AIRCRAFT BALLOONED AND BEFORE THE FIRST IMPACT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 202 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 148 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,918 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1986; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Eagle Air Force,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: SRQ Sarasota FL at 12:15 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 12, 3,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from CSG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
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.