Toledo Express Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Swanton, Ohio 43558
Friday, January 31, 1992 16:06 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT MADE ROUTINE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS IN PREPARATION FOR TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED FROM RUNWAY 25 IN DAYLIGHT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) WITH LIGHT SNOW AND FOG. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE'S RADAR TARGET DISAPPEARED FROM THE CONTROLLER'S SCOPE. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ON WOODED TERRAIN ABOUT TWO MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 25. IMPACT OCCURRED IN AN STEEP, NOSE DOWN, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY GROUND IMPACT FORCES AND A POST-IMPACT FIRE. NO PHYSICAL INCAPACITATION OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS DETERMINED. NO CONTRIBUTORY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRPLANE WERE DISCOVERED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/31/1992
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1606
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SWANTON
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43558
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TOLEDO EXPRESS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TOL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 210
Airport Elevation 684
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1605 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID TOL
Elevation of weather observation facility 684
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2460
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47748
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:41PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6038A
NTSB Number CHI92FA084
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31T
Aircraft Serial Number 31T-7820072
Certified Max Gross Weight 5110
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jan 17 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TESTA, THOMAS J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 21 STELLA STREET
Aircraft Owner City BURGETTSTOWN
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 15021
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TESTA, THOMAS J.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 21 STELLA STREET
Operator City BURGETTSTOWN
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 15021
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TOL
Departure City TOLEDO
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1605
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AFJ
Destination City WASHINGTON
Destination State PA
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 25
Runway Length 10600
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --