Piper PA-28-140 accident near Pittsfield, Massachusetts, May 24, 1986
On May 24, 1986 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N6848W, was destroyed in an accident near Pittsfield, Massachusetts (Pittsfield Municipal). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 24, 1986 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsfield, Massachusetts · Pittsfield Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6848W · no longer on the register · serial 2821002
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT ON A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT IN A PIPER CHEROKEE PA-28-140 BECAME LOST AND ATTEMPTED A LANDING AT ANOTHER AIRPORT. THE WEATHER WAS 500 FT BROKEN, 1000 FT OVERCAST. VISIBILITY 8 MILES AND RAIN SHOWERS. ON HIS FIRST APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT WAS HIGH AND DID NOT TOUCH DOWN. HE MADE A GO-AROUND. IN THE GO-AROUND, HE STARTED A TURN TO THE RIGHT, AND WAS THEN OBSERVED TO STALL. ROLL ON HIS BACK TO THE RIGHT AND FALL DOWNWARD INTO THE WOODS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY THE IMPACT AND THE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES.
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: 32 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no 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-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MGJ Montgomery NY
- Destination: 1B1 Hudson NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 26, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.