Piper PA-28-180 accident near Ludlow, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1986
On May 10, 1986 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N999HT, was destroyed in an accident near Ludlow, Pennsylvania (Bradford airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1986 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ludlow, Pennsylvania · Bradford · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N999HT · no longer on the register · serial 28-7405173
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN ACFT FITTING THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACDT ACFT WAS OBSERVED ENTERING THE LAKE ARM ABOUT 7 1/2 MI N OF THE ACDT SITE. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO PULL UP TO CLEAR PWR LINES ACROSS THE LAKE ARM ABOUT 2 1/2 MI N OF THE ACDT SITE. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO FLY INTO THE UNMARKED ELECTRICAL LINES ACROSS THE LAKE, FALL OR DIVE INTO THE WATER AND SINK. THE PILOT WAS FROM THE LOCAL AREA.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 383 hours in all; 383 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 312 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 747 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1986; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-2360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Herzog Brothers,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: Unknown
- Destination: .FD Bradford PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from BFD, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.