Piper PA-23-150 and Boeing 727-235 accident near Tampa, Florida, November 6, 1986
On November 6, 1986 at about 12:04 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-23-150 (N2185P) and Boeing 727-235 (N4743), were involved in the same accident near Tampa, Florida (Tampa Intl airport). 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 20 others were unhurt. 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
- November 6, 1986 · about 12:04 pm local time
- Place
- Tampa, Florida · Tampa Intl
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 20 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-23-150 · all PA-23-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2185P · no longer on the register · serial 23-794
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 727-235 · all 727-235s on the register
- Registration
- N4743 · no longer on the register · serial JT8D-7B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-23-150 final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT APRX 0612 EST, AN EASTERN AIRLINE CAPT (OWNER OF PIPER PA-23, N2185P) DEPARTED A RWY NEAR HIS HOME IN VFR CONDS TO COMMUTE TO WORK AT TAMPA, FL. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE CONTACTED A FSS & UPDATED THE WX INFO HE HAD OBTAINED ON THE PREVIOUS EVENING. AT THAT TIME, THE CURRENT TAMPA WX WAS, IN PART: INDEF CEILING, ZERO OBSCD, VIS 1/16 MI WITH FOG, RVR FOR RWY 36L WAS 1000' TO 1600'. BEFORE N2185P ARRIVED, 2 OTR FLTS HAD DIVERTED FM TAMPA DUE TO THE WX BEING BELOW MINS. DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT OF N2185P MADE 2 ILS APCHS TO LND. DRG HIS 1ST ATMT, HE MADE A MISSED APCH & ELECTED TO 'GO BACK & TRY IT AGAIN.' WHEN CLRD FOR THE 2ND ILS, THE RVR WAS 600' IN THE TOUCHDOWN AREA & 1000' AT MIDFIELD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THEPA-23 TOUCHED DWN ON A PARALLEL TAXIWAY & COLLIDED WITH BOEING 727, N4743, WHICH WAS BEING TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF. THE 727 CREW DID NOT SEE THE PIPER UNTIL IT WAS APRX 500' AWAY. THE CAPT OF THE BOEING STEERED RGT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE DECISION HEIGHT (DH) & MIN RVR FOR THE APCH WERE 200' & 1800', RESPECTIVELY, FOR CATEGORY A, B & C ACFT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 727-235 final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT APRX 0612 EST, AN EASTERN AIRLINE CAPT (OWNER OF PIPER PA-23, N2185P) DEPARTED A RWY NEAR HIS HOME IN VFR CONDS TO COMMUTE TO WORK AT TAMPA, FL. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE CONTACTED A FSS & UPDATED THE WX INFO HE HAD OBTAINED ON THE PREVIOUS EVENING. AT THAT TIME, THE CURRENT TAMPA WX WAS, IN PART: INDEF CEILING, ZERO OBSCD, VIS 1/16 MI WITH FOG, RVR FOR RWY 36L WAS 1000' TO 1600'. BEFORE N2185P ARRIVED, 2 OTR FLTS HAD DIVERTED FM TAMPA DUE TO THE WX BEING BELOW MINS. DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT OF N2185P MADE 2 ILS APCHS TO LND. DRG HIS 1ST ATMT, HE MADE A MISSED APCH & ELECTED TO 'GO BACK & TRY IT AGAIN.' WHEN CLRD FOR THE 2ND ILS, THE RVR WAS 600' IN THE TOUCHDOWN AREA & 1000' AT MIDFIELD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THEPA-23 TOUCHED DWN ON A PARALLEL TAXIWAY & COLLIDED WITH BOEING 727, N4743, WHICH WAS BEING TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF. THE 727 CREW DID NOT SEE THE PIPER UNTIL IT WAS APRX 500' AWAY. THE CAPT OF THE BOEING STEERED RGT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE DECISION HEIGHT (DH) & MIN RVR FOR THE APCH WERE 200' & 1800', RESPECTIVELY, FOR CATEGORY A, B & C ACFT.
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 for the Piper PA-23-150 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 80 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 94FL Pine Shadows FL at 11:12 am
- Destination: TPA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36L, 11,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Boeing 727-235 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,539 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 191,000 lb
- Seats: 134
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT8D-7B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: MIA Miami FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36L, 11,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 5 | ||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 15 |
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.