Piper PA-28-180 accident near Merced, California, November 24, 1986
On November 24, 1986, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N8474W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Merced, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- November 24, 1986
- Place
- Merced, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8474W · no longer on the register · serial 282716
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE RETURN LEG OF A ROUND ROBIN CROSS COUNTRY, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. ABOUT 15 MINUTES EARLIER, THE PILOT HAD DELIBERATELY RUN THE LEFT FUEL TANK DRY. AT THAT TIME, THE RIGHT TANK INDICATED THAT 6 TO 7 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS REMAINING. DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT HIT A FURROW AND NOSED OVER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, LESS THAN ONE QUART OF FUEL WAS FOUND REMAINING.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,121 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,275 as pilot in command; 1,745 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,046 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 1986; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EMT El Monte CA at 10:40 pm
- Destination: MCE Merced CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 330° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.