Piper PA-28-160 accident near Apex, North Carolina, June 16, 1986
On June 16, 1986 at about 7:58 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5447W, was destroyed in an accident near Apex, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- June 16, 1986 · about 7:58 pm local time
- Place
- Apex, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5447W · no longer on the register · serial 28524
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER. AFTER ABOUT ONE AND ONE-HALF HOURS EN ROUTE THE WEATHER AHEAD DETERIORATED AND THE PILOT TURNED TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE POINT. WEATHER PREVENTED A LANDING THERE SO HE TURNED TO ANOTHER AIRPORT. IT TOO WAS IN AN AREA OF WEATHER WHICH PREVENTED A LANDING. THE PILOT THEN TURNED TO ANOTHER AIRPORT WHICH ALSO WAS IN AN AREA OF LOW WEATHER. THE PILOT THEN REPORTED THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL AND WOULD ATTEMPT TO REACH ANOTHER AIRPORT. THE ENGINE QUIT AND HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH A SUITABLE LANDING AREA, HE CRASHED IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA.
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
- Flight time: 99 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 51 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,597 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1986; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W17 Knightdale NC at 4:05 pm
- Destination: Chattanooga TN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from RDU, 10 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.