Piper PA-32RT-300 accident near Columbus, Mississippi, November 12, 1986
On November 12, 1986, a Piper PA-32RT-300, registered N21188, was destroyed in an accident near Columbus, Mississippi. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 12, 1986
- Place
- Columbus, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300 PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300s on the register
- Registration
- N21188 · registry record · serial 32R-7885251
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DEPARTED COLUMBUS, MS, EN ROUTE TO MERIDIAN, MS, TO PICK UP CARGO FOR A RETURN FLT TO COLUMBUS. THE ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE AT ITS DESTINATION AND WAS LATER FOUND IN AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGIONAL AIRPORT IN COLUMBUS, MS. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT OR ENGINE THAT WOULD SUGGEST A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,300 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 112 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,524 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1986; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MEI Meridian MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; not recorded at 700 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.