Piper PA-25-235 accident near Salem, Missouri, May 20, 1982
On May 20, 1982 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N9611P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salem, Missouri. It was a ferry 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
- May 20, 1982 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Salem, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N9611P · no longer on the register · serial 25-7405772
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS FERRYING HIS NEWLY PURCHASED AIRCRAFT FROM HAYTI, MISSOURI TO EXIRA, IOWA. HE WAS UNABLE TO PURCHASE FUEL DURING AN ENROUTE STOP AT PIEDMONT, MISSOURI, SINCE NO ONE WAS AT THE AIRPORT. HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO SALEM, MISSOURI TO OBTAIN FUEL. AS HE WAS APPROACHING HIS DESTINATION, HIS LOW FUEL QUANTITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HE DID NOT HAVE THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT; THEREFORE, HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A DRAG STRIP. THE AIRCRAFT CLEARED WIRES ON THE APPROACH END OF THE STRIP; HOWEVER, HE LANDED HARD ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STRIP AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A LARGE POLE.
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: 287 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 162 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 862 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hayti MO at 11:00 am
- Destination: RYN Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 158°F (70°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.