Piper PA-28-140 accident near Underwood, North Dakota, September 5, 1985
On September 5, 1985 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N8864N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Underwood, North Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- September 5, 1985 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Underwood, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N8864N · registry record · serial 28-25725
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF PWR. THE PLT STATED HE WAS PRACTICING SLOW FLT ON THE RETURN FLT FROM PICKING THE ACFT UP AFTER AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. AS THE ACFT SLOWED TO 90 MPH DURING SLOW FLT, THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE PWR AT WHICH TIME THE ENG DID NOT RESPOND. THE ENG WAS OPERATING AT IDLE PWR WHEN THE FORCED LANDING WAS MADE FROM AN ALT OF APRX 400 FT AGL. THE PLT STATED CARB HEAT WAS NOT USED DURING THE PWR REDUCTION IN PREPARATION FOR SLOW FLT OR DURING S-TURN MANEUVERS WHICH HE PERFORMED EARLIER. THE TEMP WAS 62 DEGS F, DEW PNT 60 DEGS.NO MECHANICAL FAILURES/MALFUNCTIONS WERE DISCOVERED WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF PWR.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 701 hours in all; 330 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 591 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,614 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1985; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Mercer ND at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 95D Beulah ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from BIS, 45 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.