Youngstown Elser Metro Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

North Lima, Ohio 44452
Sunday, August 1, 1999 13:59 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After landing, the airplane's main fuel tanks were filled, and the five people got back onboard. The tail was almost touching the ground, and the airplane was sitting nose high. After takeoff, the airplane appeared to have a hard time climbing out, and was 'hanging on the prop.' The airplane turned toward a left downwind. It was initially nose high, then started to slowly lose altitude. Altitude loss quickened, the airplane's nose fell through, and the airplane maintained a sliding, left turn until it impacted the ground about 1/2 mile southwest of the airport. The engine was heard 'roaring' prior to impact, chordwise scratches were found on the propeller blades, and rotational marks were found on the starter housing. The estimated weight of the airplane was approximately 10 pounds under maximum gross weight, while center of gravity computations, using several different baggage loading scenarios, ranged from 1.1 inches, to 0.3 inches, forward of the aft center of gravity limit. Temperature at the time of the accident was 81 degrees Fahrenheit, and the density altitude was about 2,600 feet msl.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during a turn. Factors include the pilot's failure maintain sufficient airspeed, and his failure to maintain the airplane in proper trim.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/1/1999
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1359
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NORTH LIMA
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44452
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport YOUNGSTOWN ELSER METRO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4G4
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 227
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1351 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID YNG
Elevation of weather observation facility 1060
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2600
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 5
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1107
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 1 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 10:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5526J
NTSB Number NYC99FA187
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32986
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 167
Airframe Hours 4159
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BARN SWALLOWS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 487 RUGBY ROAD
Aircraft Owner City BIRDSBORO
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19508
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 4G4
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1358
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N47
Destination City POTTSTOWN
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --