Piper PA-28R-201 accident near Unity, Ohio, June 9, 1987
On June 9, 1987 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201, registered N3965M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Unity, Ohio. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- June 9, 1987 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Unity, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N3965M · no longer on the register · serial 28R7837145
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI REPORTED THAT HE REDUCED PWR TO NEAR IDLE WITH THE THROTTLE, TO HAVE HIS STUDENT PRACTICE A SIMULATED FORCED LDG. THE ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY LOST PWR COMPLETELY AT ABOUT 400-500 FT AGL WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ADD PWR BACK SO THAT THE STUDENT COULD INITIATE A GO-AROUND. SUBSEQUENT EFFORTS TO REGAIN PWR WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, AND A FORCED LDG WAS MADE IN A FIELD. THE CFI NOTED THAT HE HAD INCREASED THE PWR MOMENTARILY SEVERAL TIMES DURING DESCENT TO 'CLEAR' THE ENGINE, AND THAT HE WAS 'SLOWLY' OPENING THE THROTTLE WHEN THE ENGINE LOST PWR. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE BY THE FAA REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE-EXISTING MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,845 hours in all; 771 in this make and model; 267 in the last 90 days; 1,685 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,259 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 5, 1987; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Beaver Aviation Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BVI Beaver Falls PA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from PIT, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.