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Accidents · NTSB SEA85LA138 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-22-135 accident near Long Valley, Nevada, June 14, 1985

On June 14, 1985 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-135, registered N843, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Valley, Nevada (Uknown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 14, 1985 · about 4:50 pm local time
Place
Long Valley, Nevada · Uknown · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-22-135 · all PA-22-135s on the register
Registration
N843 · registry record · serial 22-144
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PLT CHOSE TO LAND ON A COUNTRY ROAD DUE TO LOW FUEL. AFTER REFUELING THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO DEPART THE ROUGH ROAD. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE ACFT VEERED LEFT AND STRUCK A WIRE FENCE.

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: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
  • Flight time: 1,043 hours in all; 138 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 959 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,927 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 1985
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: Long Valley NV at 4:50 pm
  • Destination: LKV Lakeview OR
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 50 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Observation at 10:00 am

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Other NTSB records under N843 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time

1999-04-14SEA99TA051 · accident near North Plains, OR · substantial damage · minor injuries

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.