Piper PA-28-140 accident near Topsail Beach, North Carolina, July 21, 1986
On July 21, 1986 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N7059R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Topsail Beach, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. 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 21, 1986 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Topsail Beach, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N7059R · no longer on the register · serial 28-21758
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FLT FROM NEW YORK STATE TO FLORIDA WITH A PLANNED REFUELING STOP AT WILMINGTON, NC. HE REPORTED THAT HE BECAME DISORIENTED WHEN THE ACFT'S VOR NEEDLE BEGAN WAVERING, ABOUT 28 MILES NORTH OF WILMINGTON. ALSO, HE STATED THAT HE NO LONGER FELT COMFORTABLE IN THE AIR AND DECIDED TO LAND. A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE ON A DESOLATE SECTION OF THE BEACH WHERE THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED SOFT SAND & FLIPPED INVERTED. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM OF THE ACFT WAS VERIFIED. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE VISIBILITY WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 3 MILES DUE TO HAZE.
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: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POU Poughkeepsie NY at 2:30 pm
- Destination: ILM Wilmington NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from ILM, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.