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Accidents · NTSB SEA87LA009 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 165 accident near Emmett, Idaho, October 12, 1986

On October 12, 1986 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 165, registered N25468, was substantially damaged in an accident near Emmett, Idaho (Emmett Municipal 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
October 12, 1986 · about 8:45 pm local time
Place
Emmett, Idaho · Emmett Municipal · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 165
Registration
N25468 · registry record · serial 573
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

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

DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST DURING TAKEOFF ROLL AND A GROUNDLOOP OCCURRED. THIS WAS THE PILOTS FIRST FLIGHT IN A TAIL WHEEL AIRCRAFT.

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: 420 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 320 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 1986
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Warner 50 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: S78 Emmett ID at 7:45 pm
  • Destination: BFI Seattle WA
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 28, 2,400 ft by 50 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 70 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

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.

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.