Ryan NAVION accident near Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1986
On September 29, 1986 at about 11:14 pm local time, a Ryan NAVION, registered N5244K, was destroyed in an accident near Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. 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
- September 29, 1986 · about 11:14 pm local time
- Place
- Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan NAVION · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N5244K · no longer on the register · serial 2144B
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT EXPERIENCED ENGINE PROBLEMS DURING CRUISE FLT AND CRASHED ABOUT ONE MILE NORTHEAST OF BEAVER FALLS, PA. POST ACCIDENT TESTING REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CAPABLE OF DEVELOPING POWER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. THEREFORE, THE ENGINE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED DURING THE FLT WERE UNDETERMINED. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACCIDENT REPORT. THE PLTS FLT TIME WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 320 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Beaver Falls PA at 11:04 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.