Piper PA-23-250 accident near Wadsworth, Ohio, August 24, 1986
On August 24, 1986 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N50HZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wadsworth, Ohio (Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- August 24, 1986 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wadsworth, Ohio · Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N50HZ · no longer on the register · serial 277554053
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON RWY 02, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE REPORTED WINDS WERE 290 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE ACFT BRAKE SYSTEM OPERATED NORMALLY DURING THE POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,967 hours in all; 2,633 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 1986; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Toledo OH at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 3,225 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 am from CLE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.