Piper PA-28-181 accident near Livermore, California, January 8, 1986
On January 8, 1986 at about 7:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8283T, was destroyed in an accident near Livermore, California (Livermore airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 8, 1986 · about 7:00 am local time
- Place
- Livermore, California · Livermore · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8283T · no longer on the register · serial 28-8116064
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF ABOUT A MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. IFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE; HOWEVER, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT HAD TOLD HIS WIFE THAT THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR WHEN HE TELEPHONED HER FROM THE AIRPORT PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE. WITNESSES IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH INDICATED VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT 15-20 FEET DUE TO DENSE FOG.
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: 147 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 71 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,823 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 27, 1985; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero Flight Of Oxnard
The flight
- Departed from: LVK
- Destination: OXR Oxnard CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.