Piper PA-28-140 accident near Kissimmee, Florida, March 8, 1986
On March 8, 1986 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N877AP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kissimmee, Florida (Kissimmee Munc. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- March 8, 1986 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Kissimmee, Florida · Kissimmee Munc.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N877AP · no longer on the register · serial 28-7725052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT DEPARTED WITH 18 GALS IN EACH FUEL TANK. AFTER 1.8 HRS OF FLYING, DOING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS AND A SHORT FLT TO ANOTHER ARPT, THE FLT EXPERIENCED AN ENG FAILURE DURING TAKEOFF FROM A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. THE PLT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER THE ENG FAILURE AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK TO CONTAIN LESS THAN 1/4 GALLON OF FUEL WITH NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE FROM THIS TANK. THE LEFT TANK CONTAINED APRX 15 GALLONS OF FUEL WITH EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE FROM A BROKEN LINE. INSPECTION OF THE ENG REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRECRASH MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE PLT STATED THE FULL 1.8 HRS WAS FLOWN USING THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE PLT WAS SEATED IN THE RIGHT SEAT OF THE ACFT AND A PASSENGER WITH AN EXPIRED STUDENT PLTS CERTIFICATE WAS SEATED IN THE LEFT PLTS SEAT.
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: 215 hours in all; 13 in the last 90 days; 149 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,157 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 1985; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from MCO, 11 miles away
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.