Piper PA-28-161 accident near Napoleon, Ohio, February 28, 1993
On February 28, 1993 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N5220W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Napoleon, Ohio (Henry County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INTENTIONAL STALL RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PREMATURE FLARE WHICH LED TO AN EXCEEDED PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF OVERALL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 1993 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Napoleon, Ohio · Henry County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N5220W · registry record · serial PA28-161
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING FLARE, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO FLOAT DOWN THE RUNWAY AND DRIFT TO THE RIGHT OF THE CENTERLINE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS RUNNING OUT OF RUNWAY SO HE PURPOSELY STALLED THE AIRPLANE TO GET IT TO THE GROUND. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE DROPPED TO THE RUNWAY ABOUT 6 FEET, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. HE STATED THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL BROKE OFF AND THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED OFF THE RUNWAY RIGHT OF THE CENTERLINE. THE FIREWALL SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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: student
- Flight time: 24 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,218 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 19, 1992; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: S & P Aviation INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,500 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from CLE, 100 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.