Piper PA-20 accident near Rolling Prairie, Indiana, May 31, 1986
On May 31, 1986 at about 12:56 pm local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N7734K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rolling Prairie, Indiana (Larry Commings Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- May 31, 1986 · about 12:56 pm local time
- Place
- Rolling Prairie, Indiana · Larry Commings Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N7734K · no longer on the register · serial 20-557
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A GO-AROUND FROM AN ABORTED LANDING THE ACFT STRUCK UNMARKED POWER LINES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE LANDING RWY. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING THE RESULTING UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THE RWY BEING USED WAS A 2400 FT LONG AND 50 FT WIDE SOD PRIVATE STRIP. THIS STRIP WAS NOT CERTIFIED SO NO OBSTRUCTION WARNINGS WERE AVAILABLE. THE PLT FAILED TO REPORT RWY IDENT OR HEADING.
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
- Flight time: 364 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 308 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,548 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1986; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MGC Michigan City IN at 12:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:48 pm from SBN, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.