Piper PA-34-200T accident near Olathe, Kansas, May 28, 1986
On May 28, 1986 at about 12:27 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N1581X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Olathe, Kansas (Johnson County Executive airport). It was a positioning 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 28, 1986 · about 12:27 pm local time
- Place
- Olathe, Kansas · Johnson County Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N1581X · no longer on the register · serial 34-7570299
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A TAKEOFF ROLL FM JOHNSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE AIRPORT, THE PIC STATED THAT THE LEFT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE RWY AND VEERED OFF INTO SOFT TERRAIN. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT WHEN ELECTRICAL POWER WAS INITIATED AND THE GEAR SWITCH WAS IN THE DOWN POSN, THE GEAR RETRACTED. REPEATED ATTEMPTS AFTER THE FIRST TEST COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS SITUATION. THE PIC STATED THAT JUST BEFORE ROTATION THE GEAR COLLASPED. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE SQUAT SWITCH WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE PIC STATED THERE WERE ONLY NORMAL GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED INDICATIONS IN THE COCKPIT PRIOR TO MAIN GEAR COLLAPSE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,602 hours in all; 902 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 4,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 950 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TS10-360-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OJC Olathe KS at 12:25 pm
- Destination: H33 Iola KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,099 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 12:27 pm from OJC
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.