Piper PA-28-151 accident near Neosho, Missouri, March 22, 1986
On March 22, 1986 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N1017X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Neosho, Missouri (Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 1986 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Neosho, Missouri · Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N1017X · registry record · serial 28-7515374
- 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 HE HAD DESCENDED FROM 5500 FEET MSL TO 2000 FEET MSL WITH THE THROTTLE AT IDLE AND WITHOUT USING CARBURETOR HEAT. WHEN HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND AND HE ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES, THEN POWERLINES BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY REASON FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS AIRPLANE HAD AN STC FOR USE OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL AND WAS USING AUTOMOTIVE FUEL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WAS OUTSIDE THE PROBABILITY RANGE FOR CARBURETOR ICE IF AVIATION FUEL WAS BEING USED BUT CAN NOT BE CALCULATED FOR AUTOMOTIVE FUEL.
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: 363 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 316 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,281 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 1FO Ardmore OK at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MKC86LA071.