Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mechanicsburg, Ohio 43044
Saturday, January 18, 1986 17:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT WAS ON A PERSONAL FLT WHEN IMC WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE PLT ELECTED TO CLIMB TO A CLEAR AREA ABOVE THE IMC WHEN THE ACFT BECAME TOTALLY 'SOCKED IN.' A 180 DEG TURN WAS MADE, VERTIGO WAS EXPERIENCED AND CONTROL OF THE ACFT WAS LOST. AN EMERGENCY DESCENT WAS MADE AND CONTROL OF THE ACFT WAS REGAINED AT 1500 FT MSL JUST BELOW THE CLOUD LAYER. IMC WAS ENTERED AGAIN WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. A PASTURE WAS SELECTED AND A LANDING WAS MADE. THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A POST ON ROLLOUT DAMAGING THE RIGHT WING AND SHEARING OFF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/18/1986
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MECHANICSBURG
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43044
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
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 Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1700 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID CMH
Elevation of weather observation facility 816
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 32
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 361
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 23 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 920
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 30702
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 2:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3414W
NTSB Number CHI86LA073
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-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32276
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 3074
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PARKS L. DAVIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3336 PEBBLEBEACH DR.
Aircraft Owner City GROVE CITY
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43123
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 No
Departure Airport Code I74
Departure City URBANA
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 2I4
Destination City GROVE CITY
Destination State OH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 2:56PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --