Piper PA-28-235 accident near Jamestown, New York, October 18, 1986
On October 18, 1986 at about 12:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N33808, was destroyed in an accident near Jamestown, New York (Chautauqua airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- October 18, 1986 · about 12:20 pm local time
- Place
- Jamestown, New York · Chautauqua · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N33808 · no longer on the register · serial 75-10065
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INST RATED PLT HAD RECEIVED A TELEPHONE WX BRIEFING PRIOR TO THE PLANNED FLT. MARGINAL VFR WX WAS FORECAST FOR THE ROUTE WITH VIS 1/8 MILE AND FOG. THE ACFT WAS LOCATED APRX 24 HRS LATER IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA ABOUT 200 YDS EAST OF AND PARALLEL TO THE DEPARTURE RWY. INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT DAMAGE OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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: 823 hours in all; 425 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 888 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JHW Jamestown NY at 12:20 pm
- Destination: TDZ Toledo OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:20 pm from JHW, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.