Piper PA28-151 accident near Columbia, Missouri, July 15, 1990
On July 15, 1990 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Piper PA28-151, registered N555TT, was destroyed in an accident near Columbia, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AIRCRAFT CONTROL NOT MAINTAINED RESULTING IN A STALL/MUSH BY THE PIC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1990 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-151 · all PA28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N555TT · registry record · serial 28-7515241
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE BEING OBSERVED FLYING LOW, BUZZING, LANDING ON A SANDBAR, AND GIVING RIDES TO FRIENDS, THE PVT PILOT DEPARTED. HE MADE A STEEP PULL-UP TURNAROUND, FAILED TO FLARE, THEN COLLIDED WITH THE SANDBAR. THE AIRCRAFT CAREENED INTO THE MAIN CHANNEL OF THE RIVER. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO EXTRICATE HIMSELF FROM THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT SANK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RECOVERED FROM THE RIVER AND IS CONSIDERED LOST.
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: 346 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 292 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JEF Jefferson City MO at 6:30 pm
- Destination: JEF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.