Piper PA-32RT/300T accident near Camdenton, Missouri, December 8, 1991
On December 8, 1991 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT/300T, registered N39555, was destroyed in an accident near Camdenton, Missouri (Camdenton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DISREGARD FOR WIND CONDITIONS, NOT ABORTING THE TAKEOFF, AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PILOT AFTER THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE AN INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION BY THE PILOT, NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND AFTER LIFTOFF, ON THE PART OF THE PILOT. ADDITIONAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE AND AN OVER-CONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY ON BEHALF OF THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 1991 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Camdenton, Missouri · Camdenton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT/300T PA-32RT/30 · all PA-32RT/300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N39555 · no longer on the register · serial 32R-788710B
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE HIGH PERFORMANCE SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. UPON ARRIVAL, THE PILOT CONVERSED WITH THE AIRPORT MANAGER. THE AIRPORT MANAGER OBTAINED CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE PILOT WHICH RELATED TO AN AIRPORT APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES NORTHEAST. THE REPORTED WINDS WERE 200 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 31 KNOTS. THE PILOT DEPARTED RUNWAY 15 SHORTLY AFTER OBTAINING THE WIND INFORMATION. THE AIRPORT MANAGER STATED HE OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRES SMOKING DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. SHORTLY AFTER THIS HE HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND SAW FIRE AND SMOKE. A FIREMAN WHO ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT OBSERVED THE WIND SOCK POINTING IN A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION. THE RUNWAY DISPLAYED 1,609 FEET OF SKID MARKS MAKING A GRADUAL ARC TO THE RIGHT. THE CLEARWAY, BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY, DISPLAYED 334 FEET OF TIRE DEPRESSION AND FURROW MARKS WHICH PARALELED THE RUNWAY BEFORE TERMINATION.
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: 664 hours in all; 67 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: STL St. Louis MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,450 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 22 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:33 pm from A1Z, 10 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.