Piper PA-28-140 accident near Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1986
On June 30, 1986 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N8299N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wellsboro, Pennsylvania (Grand Canyon State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- June 30, 1986 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Wellsboro, Pennsylvania · Grand Canyon State
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N8299N · no longer on the register · serial 28-25519
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS ADVISED THE WINDS WERE 5 TO 7 KTS, FAVORING RWY 28. HOWEVER, WHEN HE CROSSED OVER THE ARPT FOR A DOWNWIND ENTRY, HE NOTED THAT THE WIND SOCK HAD CHANGED TO INDICATE AN UPWIND FOR RWY 10, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND ON THAT RWY. ON FINAL APCH TO LAND, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBC & UP/DOWNDRAFTS, WHICH THE PLT BELIEVED WERE DUE TO WIND OVER THE SURROUNDING HILLS & VALLEYS. WHEN HE ARRIVED OVER THE RWY AT ABOUT 60' AGL, HE BELIEVED THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT RWY TO COMPLETE THE LANDING, SO HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND. HOWEVER, THE ACFT SETTLED & TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RWY. DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF PEOPLE & BUILDINGS, HE ELECTED TO STEER THE ACFT TO THE LEFT. AFTER A 500' SKID, THE ACFT CAME TO REST WITH A COLLAPSED NOSE GEAR & DAMAGE TO THE PROP, COWLING & FIRE WALL.
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: 112 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 47 as pilot in command
- 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: LDJ Linden NJ at 1:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 2,100 ft by 72 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.