Piper PA-32-260 accident near Mechanicsburg, Ohio, January 18, 1986
On January 18, 1986 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3414W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mechanicsburg, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- January 18, 1986 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mechanicsburg, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3414W · registry record · serial 32276
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON A PERSONAL FLT WHEN IMC WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE PLT ELECTED TO CLIMB TO A CLEAR AREA ABOVE THE IMC WHEN THE ACFT BECAME TOTALLY 'SOCKED IN.' A 180 DEG TURN WAS MADE, VERTIGO WAS EXPERIENCED AND CONTROL OF THE ACFT WAS LOST. AN EMERGENCY DESCENT WAS MADE AND CONTROL OF THE ACFT WAS REGAINED AT 1500 FT MSL JUST BELOW THE CLOUD LAYER. IMC WAS ENTERED AGAIN WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. A PASTURE WAS SELECTED AND A LANDING WAS MADE. THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A POST ON ROLLOUT DAMAGING THE RIGHT WING AND SHEARING OFF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR.
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: 245 hours in all; 158 in this make and model; 13 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: 3,074 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I74 Urbana OH at 10:00 pm
- Destination: 2I4 Grove City OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from CMH, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.