Piper PA-34-200T accident near Isabela, Puerto Rico, November 25, 1986
On November 25, 1986 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N888MD, was destroyed in an accident near Isabela, Puerto Rico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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 25, 1986 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Isabela, Puerto Rico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N888MD · no longer on the register · serial 34-7870317
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS REPORTED MISSING WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT FROM SAN JUAN PR TO AGUADILLA PR. THE PLTS LAST RADIO CONTACT WAS WITH AGUADILLA TOWER REQUESTING AN ALTERNATE ARPT TO LAND BECAUSE THEY WERE IN HEAVY RAIN. THE COAST GUARD INITIATED A SEARCH AND FOUND 2 SEATS, 4 SEAT CUSHIONS AND OTHER SMALL DEBRIS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE PLTS BROTHER AS COMING FROM THE MISSING AIRCRAFT.
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: 300 hours in all; 60 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TS10-360E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SIG San Juan PR at 10:45 pm
- Destination: BQN Aguadilla PR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from SJU
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.