Piper PA-34-200T accident near Mobile, Alabama, December 24, 1986
On December 24, 1986 at about 9:43 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N3577U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mobile, Alabama (Bates Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- December 24, 1986 · about 9:43 pm local time
- Place
- Mobile, Alabama · Bates Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N3577U · registry record · serial 348070100
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD SUSPECTED A HYDRAULIC PROBLEM PRIOR TO DEPARTURE WHEN HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS FOUND ON THE HANGAR FLOOR. THE ACFT WAS FLOWN TO A NEARBY ARPT FOR REPAIRS. THE ACFT THEN DEPARTED AND APRX 1 HR INTO THE FLT A HEATER PROBLEM WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PLT CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM AND THE FLT CONTINUED AT 11,000 FT. THE PLT REQUESTED A LOWER ALT UPON NEARING MOBILE AND ATC APPROVAL WAS RECEIVED TO DESCEND IN STAGES. AT 2,000 FT, THE PLT REPORTED A FAILURE OF BOTH ENGINES. REMEDIAL ACTION WAS ATTEMPTED, HOWEVER, PWR WAS NOT RESTORED. THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE GEAR UP FORCED LANDING WHICH FOLLOWED. DURING WRECKAGE RECOVERY, 49 GALLONS OF FUEL WERE DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK AND THE LEFT TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY. A TEST PROP WAS INSTALLED, FUEL WAS ADDED AND BOTH ENGINES WERE STARTED. THE ENGINES PERFORMED WITHOUT INCIDENT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,828 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 3,828 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,673 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental L/TS10360EB1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Executive Air Charter
The flight
- Departed from: CLL College Station TX at 7:16 pm
- Destination: MOD Mobile AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; not recorded at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:48 pm from MOB, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.