Piper PA28-151 accident near Kelso, Washington, January 5, 1986
On January 5, 1986 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Piper PA28-151, registered N43552, was destroyed in an accident near Kelso, Washington. 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
- January 5, 1986 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Kelso, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-151 · all PA28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N43552 · no longer on the register · serial 7415523
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ENROUTE TO DEST. PLT DIVERTED TO NEARBY AIRFIELD DUE DETERIORATING WEATHER. ONE HR LATER, TELEPHONE WEATHER BRIEF FOR CONTINUED FLT TO DEST WAS VFR NOT RECOMMENDED. LESS THAN 2 HRS. LATER, WITH NO FURTHER BRIEF, ACFT DEPARTED. A FOLLOWING ACFT REVSD COURSE AND RE-LANDED, REPTNG CLG 800 FT, VIS 2 MILES, WITH CLG RAPIDLY LOWERING TO 500 FT AFTER TAKEOFF. MISHAP ACFT FOUND BY SAR NEXT DAY AT 800 FT LEVEL OF RISING TERRAIN 11 MILES FROM TAKEOFF. TOX POSITIVE FOR MARIJUANA IN BOTH OCCUPANTS.
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: 136 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 106 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,918 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 1985; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLS Kelso WA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: TTD Troutdale OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from TDO, 28 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.