Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Marceline, Missouri, February 21, 1982
On February 21, 1982 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N8424B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marceline, Missouri (Marceline airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- February 21, 1982 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Marceline, Missouri · Marceline · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8424B · no longer on the register · serial 32R8129093
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE CRUISING AT 7000 FEET THE ENGINE BEGAN VIBRATING, LOST POWER, AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED. HE ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE INTAKE VALVE STEM ON THE #3 CYLINDER FAILED. FURTHER METALLURGICAL TESTS INDICATED THAT THE VALVE FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HARDNESS IN A LOCALIZED AREA, RESULTING IN A MICRO-CRACK WHICH WAS THE STRESS RISER FOR THE FATIGUE 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: 510 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 361 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 175 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 125 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-SIAD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Olathe KS at 7:15 am
- Destination: Quincy IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34, 2,350 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.