Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Montgomery, Texas, December 6, 1986
On December 6, 1986 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N3171R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montgomery, Texas (Conroe Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 6, 1986 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Montgomery, Texas · Conroe Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3171R · registry record · serial 28R31119
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PRIVATE PILOT CHECK RIDE WAS INTERRUPTED BY A FORCED LANDING ON A GOLF COURSE AFTER HAVING EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATIONS AND A LOSS OF POWER. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A 10 FT TALL TREE AND NOSED DOWN TO TERRAIN IMPACT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE #3 CYLINDER HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ENG. THE LARGE DIAMETER CYLINDER HOLD DOWN STUDS SEPARATED IN OVERLOAD, BUT THE LOWER SMALL DIAMETER STUDS WERE INTACT, INDICATING THAT THE CYLINDER HOLD DOWN NUTS HAD BACKED OFF.
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: 90 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,098 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CXO Montgomery TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from IAH, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.