Piper PA-20-160 accident near Buena Vista, Colorado, May 31, 1986
On May 31, 1986 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-20-160, registered N5394Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buena Vista, Colorado (Buena Vista Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 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 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Buena Vista, Colorado · Buena Vista Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20-160 · all PA-20-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5394Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-9164
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE PLT TOOK OFF, THE WIND WAS LIGHT & VARIABLE. HOWEVER, WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE ARPT ABOUT 20 TO 30 MIN LATER, DARK THREATENING CLOUDS HAD MOVED INTO THE AREA. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON RWY 14. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT BOUNCED & WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY, THEN THE PLT INITIATED A GO-AROUND. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT BANKED & CLIMBED STEEPLY TO THE RIGHT IN A DOWNWIND DIRECTION, THEN IT SUDDENLY ENTERED A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE & CRASHED IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT.
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: 157 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 76 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,979 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1986; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7V1 at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 9,125 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 27 knots, gusting 33
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 pm from 7V1
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.