Cairns Aaf Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Rucker, Alabama 36362
Sunday, March 30, 1986 20:27 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE X-C FLT DEPARTED KILLEEN, TX, WITH AN INTERMEDIATE STOP AT ALEXANDRIA, LA. A PASSENGER WAS DISEMBARKED AT CAIRNS AAF AND DURING DEPARTURE FOR DOTHAN, THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES NEAR THE AIRPORT. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ONE PILOT STATED THAT FUEL GAUGES INDICATED 3 GAL IN LEFT AND 8 GAL IN RIGHT. LESS THAN 1 GAL WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT TANK. THE TACHOMETER INDICATED TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 5.01 HOURS. THE ENGINE WAS TESTED AND RAN PROPERLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/30/1986
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2027
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City FORT RUCKER
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36362
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CAIRNS AAF
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OZR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 298
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1955 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID OZR
Elevation of weather observation facility 298
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 887
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 31 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 838
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31234
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8140Y
NTSB Number ATL86LA103
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28RT-201T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28RT-20
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-8231033
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT C. BESS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 680
Aircraft Owner City BUFFALO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75831
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THE PLANE THING, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Operator City KILLEEN
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 76541
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code OZR
Departure City FORT RUCKER
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 2026
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DHN
Destination City DOTHAN
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6
Runway Length 4500
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --