Piper PA-28-180 accident near Likely, California, September 12, 1986
On September 12, 1986 at about 1:20 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N8085W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Likely, California. 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
- September 12, 1986 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Likely, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8085W · registry record · serial 28-2175
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED SAN JOSE AIRPORT (SJC), SAN JOSE, CA ON A BUSINESS FLIGHT IN AN AREA NEAR LIKELY, CA. THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY LANDED ON AN OPEN DIRT AREA TO OBTAIN A SOIL SAMPLE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT MAIN GEAR SEPARATED AFTER STRIKING A ROCK. THE LEFT WING WAS DAMAGED AFTER IT CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT DID NOT COMPLETE THE ACCIDENT REPORT BUT HE REPORTED THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO THE RENO, NV FAA FLT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE; HE DID NOT REPORT ANY AIRPLANE MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJC San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.