Piper PA-28-181 accident near Springboro, Ohio, March 7, 1993
On March 7, 1993 at about 1:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2868Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springboro, Ohio (Dayton General Arpt South airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS DISTANCE, AND ALTITUDE ON FINAL APPROACH, AND FAILED TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 1993 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Springboro, Ohio · Dayton General Arpt South · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2868Y · registry record · serial 28-7990511
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 20, THE POWER WAS SET TO 1400 RPM, AND HIS AIRSPEED WAS 65 KNOTS. HE SAID THAT THE AIRPLANE PERFORMED WELL; HOWEVER, HIS VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WAS 'TOO LOW,' AND THE AIRPLANE'S WHEEL FAIRINGS STRUCK THE LIGHT STANCHIONS THAT STUCK UP APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET. THE FAA REPORTED THAT THE PILOT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, AND COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY APPROACH LIGHTS.
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: 365 hours in all; 265 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 320 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,647 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 12, 1992; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LUK Cincinnati OH at 2:30 am
- Destination: MGY Dayton OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 4,981 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.