Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Seven Springs, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1994
On June 23, 1994 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N40051, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seven Springs, Pennsylvania (Seven Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed and his premature liftoff which resulted in a stall mush and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1994 · about 2:45 pm local time · cases in 1994
- Place
- Seven Springs, Pennsylvania · Seven Springs · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N40051 · registry record · serial 3R-7780512
- 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 TAKEOFF AS THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED 2/3 DOWN THE RUNWAY THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF INITIALLY THEN SETTLED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT HE CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 50 TO 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND HE STALLED THE AIRPLANE INTO THE TREES 100 TO 200 YARDS FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE AND EXAMINED BY THE FAA. THE EXAMINATION DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY ANOMALIES THAT WOULD CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 10, 1993; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tanager Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: 7SP PA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: ILG Wilmington DE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,045 ft by 42 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from JST, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N40051 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N40051 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, Lance and Saratoga 3,916 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,839 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D 52 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- New Castle Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Pennsylvania 1,836 since 1982 · 234 in the last ten years
- Pennsylvania 6,195 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N40051 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/BFO94LA113.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.