Piper PA-28-235 accident near Somerset, Ohio, July 19, 1989
On July 19, 1989, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N8914W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Somerset, Ohio. It was a personal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY PERFORM AN AIRPLANE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION AND DRAIN WATER PRESENT IN THE AIRPLANE FUEL SUPPLY. THE AIRPLANE ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY LOST POWER DUE TO THE WATER CONTAMINATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1989
- Place
- Somerset, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8914W · registry record · serial 28-10483
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF PWR DURING CRUISE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY MADE A FORCED LDG IN A FIELD. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AT THE EDGE OF THE FIELD, AND SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. A MECHANIC WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE MISHAP REPORTED THAT HE FOUND THE MAIN FUEL SUMP AND CARB BOWL TO BE 95% FULL OF WATER. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL TANK FILLER CAP GASKETS BY AN FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT THE GASKETS WERE IN SERVICEABLE CONDITION. THE PLT REPORTED ONLY THAT HE PERFORMED A 'PROPER PREFLIGHT' PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,018 hours in all; 620 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,560 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 1988; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I86 New Lexington OH at 11:00 pm
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL89LA181.