Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Grafton, North Dakota, October 8, 1986
On October 8, 1986 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N8125H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grafton, North Dakota (Grafton Muni. airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- October 8, 1986 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grafton, North Dakota · Grafton Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8125H · no longer on the register · serial 32R-8029015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT MADE FORCED LANDING ON DIRT ROAD SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENG REPORTEDLY LOST POWER. PLT EXTENDED LANDING GEAR BUT ACFT TOUCHED DOWN BEFORE GEAR LOCKED AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. LEFT WING ALSO STRUCK A MAILBOX DURING ROLLOUT. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED A GUMMY RESIDUE ON TURBO WASTE GATE CONTROL, PRECLUDING DEVELOPMENT OF FULL POWER. ADDITIONALLY, TIRES WERE REPORTED TO BE UNDER-INFLATED, CAUSING HIGHER FRICTIONAL DRAG. THE PLT SAID THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL WAS NOT ABNORMALLY LONG.
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: 1,979 hours in all; 55 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 957 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 1986; 140 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BIS Bismarck ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.