Piper PA-28-181 accident near Coshocton, Ohio, January 9, 1996
On January 9, 1996 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N9248K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coshocton, Ohio. 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
loss of engine power for an undetermined reason(s). A factor relating to the accident was: the proximity of high obstructions (trees) to the emergency landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 9, 1996 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Coshocton, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N9248K · registry record · serial 76-90236
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
An instrument flight instructor (CFII) and an instrument rated private pilot were on a dual purpose mission to obtain an instrument compentency check along with a business flight. The pilots reported that they noted evidence of carburetor ice during the flight; therefore, as they began their descent to the destination, they elected to use carburetor heat throughout the remainder of the flight. The pilots reported that as they initiated a missed approach procedure, the airplane engine began to lose power. They began maneuvering for an emergency landing, then the engine lost power completely. The CFII took control of the airplane and maneuvered the airplane to avoid a treeline during the landing. Subsequently, the airplane struck the ground in a snow covered field, while in a right wing low attitude. Both pilots stated that they believed the loss of engine power was due to carburetor ice. However, they were flying in conditions of snow, and 23 miles south at Zanesville, OH, the temperature and dew point were reported to be 19 and 14 degrees F, respectively. According to icing probability charts, conditions were marginally conducive (borderline) for carburetor ice. Postaccident engine examination and a test run revealed no evidence of a preimpact mechanical 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,350 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,300 as pilot in command; 600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,807 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1995; 60 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: Y30 Ionia MI at 12:55 pm
- Destination: I40
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 2.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from ZZV, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number BFO96LA037.