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Accidents · NTSB DEN86LA124 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper J-3 accident near Britton, South Dakota, May 2, 1986

On May 2, 1986 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Piper J-3, registered N92283, was substantially damaged in an accident near Britton, South Dakota (Britton Municipal airport). 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 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
May 2, 1986 · about 5:45 pm local time · cases in 1986
Place
Britton, South Dakota · Britton Municipal · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
Registration
N92283 · registry record · serial 16764
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB TO APPRX 100 FT AGL, THEN TURN & MAKE A FORCED LANDING. THE PLT STATED THE ENG HAD LOST TOTAL PWR. THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT SAID THAT EXAMINATION OF THE ENG AFTER THE ACFT DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED 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: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 205 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 157 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,350 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1986; 150 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Destination: 8D3 Sisseton SD
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 13, 3,200 ft by 50 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 120° at 10 knots, gusting 12
  • Visibility: 50 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN86LA124.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.