Piper PA 23-160 accident near Port Clinton, Ohio, December 29, 2014
On December 29, 2014 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1960 Piper PA 23-160, registered N222CP, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Port Clinton, Ohio (Erie-Ottawa Int'L, Carl Keller airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control following a loss of left engine power for reasons that could not be determined because an examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact abnormalities.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 29, 2014 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Port Clinton, Ohio · Erie-Ottawa Int'L, Carl Keller · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 23-160, built 1960 · all PA 23-160s on the register
- Registration
- N222CP · no longer on the register · serial 23-1940
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing on a cross-country flight in the twin-engine airplane. A witness stated that before takeoff, the pilot spent about 20 minutes in the run-up area. As the airplane departed the runway, witnesses heard a "popping" noise come from the airplane. The airplane struggled to gain altitude, and one witness stated it appeared to have a problem with the left engine. The airplane turned left and descended. A review of a security camera video showed that the airplane turned left after takeoff, entered a rapid nose-down descent, and impacted terrain. A small amount of water was found in the left engine's carburetor; however, firefighter response efforts could not be eliminated as a potential source for the water. Based on the weather conditions at the time of the accident, the airplane was operating in an area associated with a risk of carburetor ice accumulation at glide and cruise power settings, but not at takeoff power settings. Witness reports and findings from the investigation are consistent with a loss of control following a loss of left engine power; however, the examination of the airframe and engines did not reveal evidence of any preimpact abnormalities.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Not specified
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 675 hours in all; 165 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 19, 2014
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,131.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 24, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,801 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming 0-360 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming 0-360 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Eagle Support Services LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KPCW Port Clinton OH
- Destination: KOSU Columbus OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PCW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.