Piper PA-32RT-300 N31975
7 February 1999 · Medina, Ohio, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 7 February 1999 at about 16:36 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300 registered N31975, operated by Bureau of ATF, was involved in an accident near Medina, Ohio, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:36
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Medina, Ohio, United States
- Nearest airport
- Medina Municipal (IG5)
- Coordinates
- 41.1295, -81.8598
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300
- Registration
- N31975
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Bureau of ATF
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Public Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Parsons
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- IAD99LA029
People
3 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
Was the pilot's failure to remove snow from the horizontal stabilator prior to take-off and his improper decision to depart downwind. Factors in the accident were the heavy snow squall and tailwind.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot flew into the airport to pick up a second passenger and refuel. After refueling and recalculating the weight and balance, the pilot called AFSS for an updated weather briefing. The pilot filed an IFR flight plan and received an IFR clearance and void time. During this time, a snow squall began. Witnesses saw the two passengers sweeping snow off of the airplane's wings prior to departure, but not the horizontal stabilator. While taxiing to the runway for departure, the pilot acknowledged the UNICOM that the winds were out of the east at 8-10 knots. A witness noted the visibility was approximately 1/4 mile in heavy snow when the airplane departed runway 27. The airplane struck trees approximately a 1/2 mile from the runway. A passenger stated that there were no engine problems prior to hitting the trees. The pilot did not report any mechanical deficiencies with the airframe or engine. On-site examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies with the airframe or engine.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32RT accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Feb 1999 | Piper PA-32RT-300 | Cartersville, Georgia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Dec 1999 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Pelham, Alabama, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 13 Dec 1999 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Dec 1999 | Piper PA-32RT-300 | Geneva, Alabama, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 Jan 1998 | Piper PA-32RT-300 | Taos, New Mexico, United States | Flight Training Center | No injuries | - |
| 15 Oct 2000 | Piper PA-32RT | Selmer, Tennessee, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Sep 1999 | Piper J-3 | Brookville, Ohio, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Oct 1999 | Cessna 210L | Medina, Ohio, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 26 Aug 1999 | Cessna 150 | Madison, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Dec 1999 | Cessna 182P | Port Clinton, Ohio, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Jan 1999 | Cessna 421B | Youngstown, Ohio, United States | Hawkeye Charter Service, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 9 May 1999 | Cessna 205 | Celina, Ohio, United States | Robert J. Tangeman | Fatal | 6 |