Piper PA-28-181 accident near Northport, Alabama, November 29, 1987
On November 29, 1987 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8121T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Northport, Alabama (Tuscaloosa Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 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
- November 29, 1987 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Northport, Alabama · Tuscaloosa Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8121T · no longer on the register · serial 288090143
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE REACHING THE ARPT, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DURING AN EMERG LANDING ON AN EMBANKMENT ABOUT 1.5 MI SHORT OF RWY 29. ONLY ABOUT 1 CUP OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN EACH FUEL TANK. THE PLT THOUGHT THERE WAS ABOUT 12 GAL OF FUEL REMAINING BEFORE THE ENG LOST POWER. HOWEVER, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER NOTED THAT THE LEFT & RGT TANK GAUGES WERE INDICATING 'EMPTY' & THE CENTER GAUGE WAS INDICATING WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS 10 TO 12 GAL OF FUEL. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH ONLY 2 FUEL TANKS & HAD NO 3RD AUX TANK. THE CENTER GAUGE WAS A FUEL SYS PRESSURE GAUGE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 309 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 245 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 925 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1987; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORL Orlando FL at 1:42 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 29, 4,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:10 pm from TCL, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.