Piper PA-28-140 accident near Neelyville, Missouri, April 29, 1987
On April 29, 1987 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N44213, was destroyed in an accident near Neelyville, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- April 29, 1987 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Neelyville, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N44213 · no longer on the register · serial 287425395
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED THAT THE P.I.C. HAD ABORTED SEVERAL TAKEOFF ATTEMPTS WHILE TRYING TO DEPART TO THE NORTH--THE WINDS WERE ORIGINATING FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE AIRCRAFT EVENTUALLY DEPARTED FROM, AND ALMOST USED THE FULL LENGTH OF, RUNWAY 36. IT THEN BROKE GROUND AND CLIMBED STEEPLY TO AVOID THE TREES--BUT TO NO AVAIL--ACCORDING TO WITNESSES. THE RIGHT WING SHEARED OFF AS THE AIRCRAFT CAREENED THROUGH THE WOODS BEFORE EXPLODING AND BURNING AS IT CAME TO REST. THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE FOUND SERIOUSLY INJURED OUTSIDE THE WRECKAGE, BUT THE ALMOST IMMEDIATE EXPLOSION/CONFLAGRATION PRECLUDED THEIR TIMELY RESCUE BY CFR PERSONNEL. SAMPLES OF AUTO GAS WERE FOUND IN THE POWERPLANT; NO RECORD OF AN FAA-APPROVED STC FOR THE USE OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL COULD BE PRODUCED. ACCORDING TO EVIDENCE GATHERED AT THE SCENE, THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING POWER AT THE MOMENT OF INITIAL IMPACT.
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: student
- Flight time: 200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,425 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:46 pm from CGI, 60 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N44213 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.