Piper PA-22-108 accident near Toronto, Ohio, December 17, 2005
On December 17, 2005 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-108, registered N5031Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Toronto, Ohio (Eddie Dew Memorial Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to depart from the snow-covered runway, which resulted in the swerve during takeoff roll and subsequent nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 2005 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Toronto, Ohio · Eddie Dew Memorial Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-108 · all PA-22-108s on the register
- Registration
- N5031Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-8649
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane swerved during takeoff roll on a snow-covered runway and subsequently nosed over after dragging its left wingtip. The pilot reported that the turf runway was covered with approximately two inches of "crusted snow." The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll he attempted to follow the tire tracks left in the snow by a previous airplane. The pilot reported that about 75 yards into the takeoff run he decided that the "aircraft was not going to fly." The pilot stated he "was about to close throttle and shut down, when the airplane veered to the left." The airplane subsequently dragged the left wing tip and nosed over. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if prior to takeoff he had "inspected the runway surface for degree of snow crusting." The pilot also stated that the runway was "prone to drifting snow in various areas at times."
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: 2,189 hours in all; 2,180 in this make and model; 2,077 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,394.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1G8 Toronto OH at 1:15 pm
- Destination: 3G8 Sebring OH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 2,268 ft by 145 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 12:51 pm from PIT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.