Ohio State University Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Columbus, Ohio 43235
Friday, September 30, 1988 21:24 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE. TWO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT WHO SAW THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE LIFT OFF FROM THE RUNWAY DESCRIBED THE FLIGHT PATH AS ERRATIC IN NATURE WITH RANDOM MOVEMENT IN ALL THREE AXIS, PITCH, ROLL AND YAW. THE WITNESSES DID NOT SEE THE ACTUAL IMPACT. EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT THE UPPER HALF OF THE MAIN ENTRY CLAMSHELL DOOR WAS NOT CLOSED AT IMPACT. RADIO TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WHILE IN FLIGHT SHOW A ELEVATED VOICE LEVEL INDICATIVE OF STRESS AS THE PIC ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL THE AIRPLANE DURING PITCH AND ROLL EXCURSIONS. THE RADIO TRANSMISSIONS WERE UNINTELLIGIBLE. THE TWR HAD CLEARED THE ACFT TO LAND ON ANY RWY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

AERODYNAMICALLY STALLED LIFTING SURFACE CAUSING AN UNCOMMANDED PITCH OVER AT AN ALTITUDE TOO LOW TO AFFECT A RECOVERY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/30/1988
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2124
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City COLUMBUS
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43235
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2124 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID OSU
Elevation of weather observation facility 905
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 8000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2338
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 30 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2227
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40434
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:08PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N14HR
NTSB Number CHI88FA249
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 Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-60-601P
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-60-601P
Aircraft Serial Number 61P-0479-193
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 22 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 3075
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT HOLLBERT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1607 EASTON ROAD
Aircraft Owner City WARRINGTON
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 18976
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT HOLBERT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1607 EASTON RD.
Operator City WARRINGTON
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 18976
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code OSU
Departure City COLUMBUS
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 2124
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N88
Destination City DOYLESTOWN
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9R
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --