Piper PA 28-161 accident near Stanley, Virginia, August 16, 1986
On August 16, 1986 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA 28-161, registered N36489, was destroyed in an accident near Stanley, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person 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
- August 16, 1986 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stanley, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-161 · all PA 28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N36489 · no longer on the register · serial 2807816641
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THE GROUND DURING A X-COUNTRY FLT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE PLT HAD CROSSED THE 1ST RIDGE AT APRX 800 FT AGL ACCORDING TO THE PLT. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SAID LATER THAT HE COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE FLT THAT THE ACFT WAS TOO LOW. HE SAID THAT THE PLT TOLD HIM THAT 'THE SCENARY IS BETTER DOWN HERE.' THE PASSENGER SAID THAT THE ACFT WAS NEVER HIGHER THAN THE THIRD RIDGE. WHEN THE PLT TRIED TO CLIMB OVER THIS THIRD RIDGE THE AIRSPEED BEGAN TO DROP. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT THE PLT CONTINUED A STEADY COURSE TOWARD THE RIDGE AND JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT TRIED TO CLIMB STEEPER. THE STALL WARNING WENT OFF AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE ACFT IMPACTED THE TREES.
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, military, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,843 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 1986; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Ft. Eustis Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: W45 Luray VA at 5:15 pm
- Destination: FAF Ft. Eustis VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.