Piper PA-22-160 accident near Lamar, Missouri, October 28, 2003
On October 28, 2003 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N8858D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lamar, Missouri (Lamar Municipal Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not maintaining directional control, not performing an aborted takeoff and his inadequate compensation for the crosswind. Factors to the accident include the crosswind, the hangar and the building.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 2003 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lamar, Missouri · Lamar Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N8858D · no longer on the register · serial 22-6029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted a hangar and an off-airport storage building during takeoff from runway 03. The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that while demonstrating a "touch and go" to a student pilot, a gust of wind caused the airplane to drift toward the buildings. The CFI reported he did not "pull up for a fear of stalling and striking the ground." The reported winds approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident were 340 degrees true at 11 knots.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 776 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 559 as pilot in command; 238 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 27, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,179 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 2003; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LLU Lamar MO at 4:00 pm
- Destination: LLU Lamar MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 2,902 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from JLN, 22 miles away
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.