Piper PA-23-250 accident near Rural Retreat, Virginia, January 20, 1986
On January 20, 1986 at about 8:54 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N14259, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rural Retreat, Virginia (Mountain Eagle airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- January 20, 1986 · about 8:54 pm local time
- Place
- Rural Retreat, Virginia · Mountain Eagle · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N14259 · no longer on the register · serial 27-4820
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT SAID FIRST ADF APPROACH TERMINATED BY MISSED APPROACH DUE TO OSCILLATING DIRECTIONAL NEEDLE. ON SECOND APPROACH ACFT BROKE OUT OF CLOUDS WITH TREES IN FRONT OF ACFT. IT IMPACTED A CLOUD OBSCURED RIDGE 3.5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF AIRPORT ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. PILOT/WITNESSES REPORTED STRONG WINDS FROM THE NORTHWEST TO NORTH. FINAL APPROACH COURSE FOR NDB APPROACH WAS 253. CEILING REPORTED AT AIRPORT AS 1000'. MDA WAS 1100'. NDB WAS REPORTED BY FBO AS APPARENTLY OPERATING SATISFACTORILY. TESTS OF ACFT ADF RECEIVER REVEALED IT ALSO OPERATED SATISFACTORILY.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,334 hours in all; 143 in this make and model; 157 in the last 90 days; 1,159 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,660 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1985; 186 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Patten Corporation Of Va.
The flight
- Departed from: W96 Quinton VA at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.