Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Fort Rucker, Alabama, March 31, 1986
On March 31, 1986 at about 2:27 am local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N8140Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Rucker, Alabama (Cairns Aaf airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- March 31, 1986 · about 2:27 am local time
- Place
- Fort Rucker, Alabama · Cairns Aaf · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8140Y · no longer on the register · serial 28R-8231033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE X-C FLT DEPARTED KILLEEN, TX, WITH AN INTERMEDIATE STOP AT ALEXANDRIA, LA. A PASSENGER WAS DISEMBARKED AT CAIRNS AAF AND DURING DEPARTURE FOR DOTHAN, THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES NEAR THE AIRPORT. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ONE PILOT STATED THAT FUEL GAUGES INDICATED 3 GAL IN LEFT AND 8 GAL IN RIGHT. LESS THAN 1 GAL WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT TANK. THE TACHOMETER INDICATED TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 5.01 HOURS. THE ENGINE WAS TESTED AND RAN PROPERLY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,883 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 3,210 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: The Plane Thing, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: OZR Fort Rucker AL at 1:26 am
- Destination: DHN Dothan AL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 6, 4,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 240° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.