Smith MINIPLANE accident near Miamisburg, Ohio, July 13, 1986
On July 13, 1986 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Smith MINIPLANE, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N26Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miamisburg, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- July 13, 1986 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Miamisburg, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith MINIPLANE, amateur-built · all MINIPLANEs on the register
- Registration
- N26Z · registry record · serial FA2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE GROUND DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER A PWR LOSS FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT SAID THAT HE HAD 10 GALS OF FUEL AT TAKEOFF AND AFTER 20 MINTUES OF FLT THE GAUGE INDICATED 5 GALS. DURING THE ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE ARPT THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT DID NOT INDICATE HOW HE DETERMINED THAT THE ACFT HAD 10 GALS OF FUEL BEFORE TAKEOFF. THE GAUGE WAS DETERMINED TO BE INACCURATE. THE FUEL TANK, LINES, AND CARBURETOR WERE EMPTY OF FUEL AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE ON OR AROUND THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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: 1,201 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,201 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 1986; 9 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-CD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I73 Moraine Airport OH at 8:51 pm
- Destination: I73 Moraine OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from LUK, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.