Piper PA-34-200T accident near Mobile, Alabama, July 23, 1986
On July 23, 1986 at about 8:52 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N2952D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mobile, Alabama (Bates Field). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- July 23, 1986 · about 8:52 pm local time
- Place
- Mobile, Alabama · Bates Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N2952D · no longer on the register · serial 34-7970398
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING PRIOR TO TAKEOFF WHICH FORECASTED WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS. ON ARRIVAL AT DESTINATION A THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER THE ARPT. THE PLT EXECUTED AN ILS RWY 14 APCH. A PRECEDING DC-9 MADE A MISSED APPROACH DUE TO TOWER REPORTED WINDSHEAR. THE PLT OF THE ACCIDENT ACFT SAID HE SAW INTENSE RAIN AND LIGHTNING AHEAD AHEAD OF HIM AND HEARD THE TOWER REPORT OF WINDSHEAR. THE APCH WAS CONTINUED AND A STRONG DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED WHICH RESULTED IN COLLISION WITH THE RWY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,560 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 135 in the last 90 days; 5,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 1986; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-EB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EUF Eufaula AL at 6:31 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 8,527 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 18 knots, gusting 26
- Sky: overcast at 2,800 ft; not recorded at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from MOB
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.