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Accidents · NTSB MIA86LA065 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-32-300 accident near Melbourne, Florida, January 24, 1986

On January 24, 1986 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N2947U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Melbourne, Florida (Melbourne Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

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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 September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
January 24, 1986 · about 9:55 pm local time
Place
Melbourne, Florida · Melbourne Regional · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
Registration
N2947U · registry record · serial 32-7940226
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PLT STATED THAT ON HIS LANDING ROLLOUT HE LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT & VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF RWY 9L COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR.

The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.

About this page

Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MIA86LA065.