Piper PA-24-400 accident near St.Augustine, Florida, June 11, 1986
On June 11, 1986 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-400, registered N8495P, was substantially damaged in an accident near St.Augustine, Florida (St. Augustine airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- June 11, 1986 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- St.Augustine, Florida · St. Augustine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-400 · all PA-24-400s on the register
- Registration
- N8495P · no longer on the register · serial 26-75
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A FORCED LDG WAS MADE AFTER THE ENG FAILED WHILE CRUISING AT 8000 FT. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE TOP OF THE CRANKCASE WAS CRACKED & A HOLE WAS IN THE TOP OF THE CASE AT THE NO. 2 CYLINDER. THE BOTTOM OF THE CAP OF THE NO. 2 CONNECTING ROD HAD BROKEN OFF & THE ROD WAS PROTRUDING THROUGH THE HOLE IN THE CASE. WHEN THE ROD FAILED, ENG OIL SPRAYED OVER THE WINDSHIELD OBSCURING THE PLT'S FORWARD VISION. THE ACFT WAS A 1964 MODEL & ACCORDING TO RECORDS, THE ENG HAD NEVER BEEN REMOVED FROM THE ACFT OR OVERHAULED DURING THE 22 YEAR PERIOD SINCE NEW. TOTAL TIME ON THE ACFT AND ENG WAS 1446 HOURS. THE OWNER/PLT STATED THAT HE FELT THE ENG SHOULD HAVE 'GOTTEN 1600 HRS OR MORE, INSTEAD OF 1446' BEFORE ANY FAILURE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 847 hours in all; 660 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 660 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,446 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 4, 1985; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAV Savannah GA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: PBI West Palm Bch FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 20, 2,530 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:48 pm from CRG, 15 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.