Piper PA-28-181 accident near Columbia Stn, Ohio, September 4, 1993
On September 4, 1993 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2189H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia Stn, Ohio (Columbia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DELAY IN INITIATING A GO-AROUND (ABORTED LANDING), AND HIS IMPROPER RAISING OF THE FLAPS AT A LOW AIRSPEED AFTER LIFT-OFF, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/MUSH. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 1993 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia Stn, Ohio · Columbia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2189H · registry record · serial 28-7990211
- 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 DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND, THE AIRPLANE WAS HIGH, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, IT TOUCHED DOWN LONG. THE PILOT INITIATED A GO-AROUND, BUT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT SEEM TO CLIMB FAST ENOUGH, SO HE RETRACTED THE FLAPS. AS THE FLAPS RETRACTED, THE AIRPLANE SETTLED. IT TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE THEN ANGLED OFF THE RUNWAY, SLID INTO BRUSH AND TREES, AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NO PRE-ACCIDENT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND.
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: 126 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 46 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 1993; 195 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Illinois Valley Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: 1G0 Bolling Green OH at 3:45 pm
- Destination: 4G8
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36R, 3,110 ft by 270 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from CLE, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.