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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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March 2, 1986 · Piper PA-28-181 · N9153K

Hickory, NC

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 2, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Hickory, NC
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-181
Tail Number
N9153K
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL86LA083

DURING CRUISE FLT, PLT FELT ENG VIB AND DIVERTED TO NEAREST APRT. DURING THE DESCENT THE PLT HEARD AN EXPLOSION, SAW THE ENG COWL POP UP AND OIL COVERED THE WINDSCREEN. ESTABLISHED IN A GLIDE THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES THEN THE GROUND. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT CYL #2 HAD DEPARTED THE. FOUR OF THE EIGHT HOLD DOWN NUTS HAD BACKED COMPLETELY OFF OF THE STUDS. 3 STUDS WERE BROKEN AND 1 STUD PULLED OUT OF THE CRANKCASE.

Full Narrative

DURING CRUISE FLT, PLT FELT ENG VIB AND DIVERTED TO NEAREST APRT. DURING THE DESCENT THE PLT HEARD AN EXPLOSION, SAW THE ENG COWL POP UP AND OIL COVERED THE WINDSCREEN. ESTABLISHED IN A GLIDE THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES THEN THE GROUND. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT CYL #2 HAD DEPARTED THE. FOUR OF THE EIGHT HOLD DOWN NUTS HAD BACKED COMPLETELY OFF OF THE STUDS. 3 STUDS WERE BROKEN AND 1 STUD PULLED OUT OF THE CRANKCASE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:37 EST
Nearest AirportHickory Municipal (1nm NE)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-181
Tail NumberN9153K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4M · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 66 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 3 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point25 C / 9 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time06:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data