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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1985 · about 4:50 pm local time · cases in 1985
- 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
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N843 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N843 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer and Colt 2,943 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 58 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Lake County · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Nevada 1,294 since 1982 · 223 in the last ten years
- Nevada 4,584 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N843 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA85LA138.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.