Piper PA-38 accident near Elko, Nevada, August 9, 1986
On August 9, 1986 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38, registered N9148A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elko, Nevada (Elko Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- August 9, 1986 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Elko, Nevada · Elko Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38 · all PA-38s on the register
- Registration
- N9148A · no longer on the register · serial 82A0101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT EXECUTED FORCED LNDG FOLLOWING PWR LOSS ON INITIAL CLIMB. ACFT TANKS (16 GAL CAP EA) HAD BEEN TOPPED TWO HOURS PRIOR, FUEL RECEIPT SHOWS 16.6 ADDED, REFUELER RECALLED ABT 8 GALS ADDED PER TANK. PLT CHECKED VISUALLY AND ON GAGES DURING PREFLIGHT. POST-CRASH, OPERATOR REPORTED FINDING ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL FWD OF SELECTOR (ENGINE FUEL STARVATION), 16 GALS IN RT TANK, 3 GALS IN LEFT TANK, NO LEAKS IN FUEL SYSTEM. ENGINE TEST RUN NORMAL. REPORTED FACTS ARE IN CONFLICT REGARDING FULL FUEL AND FINDING OF 3 GALS IN LEFT TANK WITH NO LEAKAGE. ANALYSIS PROVIDES NO SCENARIO WHICH WILL FIT REPORTED FACTS, EVEN IF UNDETECTED POST-CRASH FUEL LEAK DRAINED LEFT TANK TO 3 GALS. EXTREME (9500 FT) DENS ATL APPARENTLY NOT A FACTOR. PWR LOSS DUE TO ENGINE FUEL STARVATION FOR UNDETERMINED REASON.
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: 86 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 64 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,720 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OGD Ogden UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 23, 6,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 109°F (43°C), dew point 91°F (33°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from EKO, 1 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.