Piper PA-24-250 accident near Lewisburg, Kentucky, November 21, 1987
On November 21, 1987 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6450P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lewisburg, Kentucky. It was a personal 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
- November 21, 1987 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lewisburg, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6450P · no longer on the register · serial 241565
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AT 5500 FEET. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO START THE ENGINE AFTER COMPLETING AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE. THE PILOT ESTABLISHED AN APPROACH TO A LANDING AREA, AND STALLED THE AIRCRAFT ON SHORT FINAL. THE AIRCRAFT MOVED ABOUT 30 FEET AFTER IMPACT. THERE WAS AMPLE ALTITUDE AVAILABLE FOR THE PILOT TO ESTABLISH AN APPROACH TO A LARGE OPEN FIELD. THE STALL RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIALLY MORE DAMAGE AND INJURIES. THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THE OVERHAUL FACILITY DID NOT PROPERLY SAFETY THE FOUR BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE CAMSHAFT DRIVE GEAR IN THE ACCESSORY DRIVE SECTION OF THE ENGINE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 629 hours in all; 302 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 512 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,391 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1987; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OWB Owensburg KY at 6:55 pm
- Destination: Manchester TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.