Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Bedford, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1994
On April 18, 1994 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N4445X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bedford, Pennsylvania (Bedford Airport). It was a business 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNDERSHOOT OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 1994 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bedford, Pennsylvania · Bedford Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4445X · registry record · serial 7680017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During final approach, the airplane touched down about five feet short of the runway. The pilot reported that during final approach, about 30 to 40 feet above the ground, a high rate of descent occurred. He stated that he initiated a go around, but the left main gear touched down. The pilot stated that once the gear made contact with the ground, he decided to land the airplane. He stated that the airplane bounced up on the runway and landed hard pushing the left main gear aft and through the fuselage. The airplane skid to the left and departed the runway.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 583 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 418 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1993; 117 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wnt Leasing CO.
The flight
- Departed from: 2G4 Oakland MD at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,041 ft by 39 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from AOO, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.