Colombia Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Colombia Staton, Ohio 44028
Monday, December 30, 1996 19:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was on a dual instructional flight at night, with the student at the controls, when it collided with trees during a landing approach. The flight instructor (CFI) took control of the airplane and flew it to another airport, about 10 miles away, and then landed. Neither the CFI, the registered owner, nor the student reported the accident. During a routine ramp surveillance, an FAA Inspector noticed the airplane was substantially damage. The student pilot, who had about 28 hours of total flight time, said this was her first night dual instruction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

inadequate supervision by the flight instructor (CFI), and his failure to ensure that sufficient altitude and/or clearance was maintain from obstructions (trees) during the approach. Darkness was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/30/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City COLOMBIA STATON
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44028
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COLOMBIA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4G8
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 813
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1756 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID CLE
Elevation of weather observation facility 792
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
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) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2005
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 2 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1654
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2587G
NTSB Number IAD97LA040
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-79A0558
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 24 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 4076
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GEORGE CHOI
Aircraft Owner Street Address 101 E TALLMADGE AVE
Aircraft Owner City AKRON
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44310
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code TSO
Departure City CARROLLTON
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1820
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 4G8
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 18
Runway Length 2010
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --