Piper PA-18 accident near Wilton, Maine, August 30, 1986
On August 30, 1986 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N4641H, was destroyed in an accident near Wilton, Maine (Meserve Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- August 30, 1986 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Wilton, Maine · Meserve Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N4641H · no longer on the register · serial 17-53
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT GO INTO A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE PRIOR TO CRASHING INTO A WOODED AREA NEAR THE ARPT. RPRTDLY, THE PROP WAS TURNING, BUT NO SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE ENG. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GND IN A NOSE LOW, INVERTED ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. ABOUT 32 MILES NW AT AUGUSTA, ME, THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 72 & 46 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. WITH THIS CONDITION, SERIOUS CARB ICING WAS POSSIBLE; HOWEVER, THE CARB HEAT WAS FOUND IN THE HEAT POSITION, BOTH IN THE COCKPIT & AT THE CARB AIR BOX. THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON BOARD THE ACFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT DETERMINED, ALTHOUGH, IT WAS SERVICED WITH 5.5 GAL OF FUEL PRIOR TO THE FLT. THE PRIMER WAS FOUND UNLOCKED AND THE MAGNETO SWITCH WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 354 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 297 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,864 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1986; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from AUG, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.