Piper PA-28-180 accident near Chillicothe, Missouri, November 8, 1986
On November 8, 1986 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N55505, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chillicothe, Missouri (Chillicothe 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
- November 8, 1986 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Chillicothe, Missouri · Chillicothe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N55505 · registry record · serial 28-7305403
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC RPTD THAT HE WAS TAXIING OUT FM THE RAMP AREA TO THE RUNUP AREA OF THE AIRPORT TO PREPARE FOR TAKEOFF. HE STATED HE HAD NOTICED GROUND EQUIPMENT OPERATING ON THE ARPT AS HE TAXIED OUT. HE HAD ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD BECOME FOGGED DURING THE TAXI TIME, WHICH RESTRICTED HIS ABILITY TO SEE. THE PIC DID NOT CONFIRM THAT STATEMENT IN HIS REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS A STREAMROLLER, WAS BACKING ONTO THE TAXIWAY AND HE SWERVED TO AVOID IT. THE ACFT'S LEFT WING TIP STRUCK THE LARGE ROLLER OF THE VEHICLE. THE PIC HAD STATED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT EXPECT IT TO MOVE ONTO THE TAXIWAY. THE OPERATOR OF THE ROLLER COULD NOT BE REACHED FOR COMMENT.
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: 1,304 hours in all; 844 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 1,102 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,417 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 22, 1986; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9K4 Chillicothe MO at 11:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,900 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.