Piper PA-24-250 accident near Crosby, North Dakota, October 22, 1986
On October 22, 1986 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N8271P, was destroyed in an accident near Crosby, North Dakota (Crosby Muni airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. 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
- October 22, 1986 · about 7:40 pm local time · cases in 1986
- Place
- Crosby, North Dakota · Crosby Muni · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N8271P · registry record · serial 24-3524
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
CROSBY MUNICIPAL ARPT WAS NOTAM'D CLOSED DUE TO RWY CONSTRUCTION AND RESURFACING. THE PLT AND PAXS WERE EMPLOYEES OF THE ENGINEERING COMPANY PARTICIPATING IN THE ARPT CONSTRUCTION. THE PLT OF N8271P HAD LANDED ON THE CLOSED RWY EARLIER IN THE DAY. THE RWY WAS OCCUPIED BY TWO 3-TON DUMP TRUCKS AND PAVING EQUIPMENT. THE PLT WAS SHOWN A GRASS STRIP THAT WAS SUITABLE FOR TAKEOFF BUT CHOSE THE PAVED RWY. THE ACFT STRUCK THE PAVING EQUIPMENT THAT WAS APPROX 1440 FT FROM THE NEW TAXIWAY USED BY N8271P TO ACCESS RWY 30. ACCORDING TO THE TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE CHARTS, A GROUND RUN OF OVER A THOUSAND FT IS NEEDED WITH OVER 1600 FEET OF DISTANCE TO CLEAR A 50 FT OBSTACLE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 836 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,444 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 1986; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: B1S Bismarck ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,850 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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
- N8271P on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-24 Comanche 2,428 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,844 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 18 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Crosby Municipal · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in North Dakota 581 since 1982 · 59 in the last ten years
- North Dakota 2,493 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN87FA007.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.