Piper PA 28-236 accident near Lexington, Missouri, October 27, 2016
On October 27, 2016 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1985 Piper PA 28-236, registered N4376V, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Lexington, Missouri (Lexington Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2016 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lexington, Missouri · Lexington Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-236, built 1985 · all PA 28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N4376V · registry record · serial 28-8511005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot stated that the airplane experienced an abrupt, total loss of engine power during the initial climb on takeoff. He lowered the nose and conducted a forced landing to an open field; upon touchdown, the nose landing gear collapsed and the engine mount sustained substantial damage. An examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Nearby temperature and dew point were plotted on a carburetor icing probability chart. Although the atmospheric conditions present at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of serious carburetor icing at a cruise power settings, the pilot stated that an operational check of the carburetor heat during the pre-takeoff engine run-up produced a drop in rpm, consistent with an absence of carburetor ice. Further, the pilot did not report reduced power output during the engine run-up or upon application of takeoff power; therefore, it is unlikely that carburetor ice resulted in the sudden loss of power experienced after takeoff.
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Loss of engine power (total) during takeoff defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 950 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 2, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,390 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 16, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3A5D (piston); 604 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4K3 Lexington MO at 4:30 pm
- Destination: OZS Camdenton MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 2,925 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from KGPH, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on December 27, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Communication Summary Insp. Wood | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Miscellaneous Information - Carb Icing Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.