Piper PA-28-161 accident near Hampton, New Hampshire, September 1, 1986
On September 1, 1986 at about 3:12 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8285C, was destroyed in an accident near Hampton, New Hampshire. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- September 1, 1986 · about 3:12 pm local time
- Place
- Hampton, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8285C · registry record · serial 288116067
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS FLYING AT LOW ALT IN THE VICINITY OF INTERSTATE I-95 WHEN THE PLT MADE A 360 DEG, RGT TURN. AFTER THE TURN, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH PWR LINES, WHICH CROSSED I-95, THEN CRASHED & BURNED. A WITNESS ESTIMATED THE ACFT HAD DSCNDD TO ABOUT 35 TO 50 FT AGL BFR HITTING THE PWR LINES. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT & ENG REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACTMECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE PLT WAS FLYING THE ACFT FROM THE RGT SEAT. THE OUTBOARD (MALE) PORTION OF THE RGT SEAT BELT WAS FND CONNECTED TO THE INBOARD (FEMALE) PORTION OF THE LEFT SEAT BELT. LIKEWISE, THE OUTBOARD (MALE) PORTION OF THE LEFT SEAT BELT WAS FND CONNECTED TO THE INBOARD (FEMALE) PORTION OF THE RGT SEAT BELT; HOWEVER, THE INBOARD PORTION OF THE RGT SEAT BELT WAS NOT ANCHORED TO THE AIRFRAME. THE PASSENGERS (PAX) IN THE LEFT FRONT & LEFT REAR SEATS WERE FATALLY INJURED. A POSTMORTEM EXAM OF THE FATAL PAX FAILED TO DISCLOSE INJURIES COMMENSURATE WITH THE USE OF RESTRAINT SYSTEMS. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK SHOWED THE PLT HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.155%.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 330 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,670 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 27, 1986; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Beverly MA at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots, gusting 1
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from PMS, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.