Piper PA-28RT-201 accident near Aurora, Missouri, December 16, 1985
On December 16, 1985 at about 1:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, registered N83956, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aurora, Missouri (Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- December 16, 1985 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Aurora, Missouri · Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201 PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201s on the register
- Registration
- N83956 · registry record · serial 28R-8131142
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THERE WAS PATCHES OF SNOW AND ICE ON THE RUNWAY SURFACE A SNOW ON THE SIDES AND AS HE PULLED UP THE FLAPS, THE AIRPLANE VEERED RIGHT, OFF THE RUNWAY. HE SAID THAT AFTER HE GOT THE AIRPLANE BACK ON THE RUNWAY, IT GROUND- LOOPED TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED INWARD.
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: 288 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 255 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 622 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 1985; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TS10-360-FB 1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3KM Wichita KS at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.