Piper PA-22-150 accident near Cedar City, Utah, January 19, 1986
On January 19, 1986 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N5950D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar City, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- January 19, 1986 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar City, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N5950D · no longer on the register · serial 22-4614
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLT, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY AIR ENTERING THE COCKPIT. THE PLT SAID HE INITIALLY REDUCED PWR, NOT KNOWING WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, WHEN NO VISUAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND, HE ADDED PWR, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT & NOTICED SOME DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEMS. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE ACFT NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FABRIC AT THE TOP OF THE OUTSIDE WINDSCREEN HAD SEPARATED & FORMED A LARGE SCOOP AREA. AD 74-17-04 WHICH REQUIRED THE INSTALLATION OF PIPER SERVICE KIT # 754-404, HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH.
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: 388 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 270 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,538 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 1985; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,840 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1L6 Beryl Junction UT at 9:00 pm
- Destination: IL9 Parowan UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from CDC, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.