Piper PA-28-180 accident near Batavia, Ohio, November 20, 2005
On November 20, 2005 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N3425R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Batavia, Ohio (Clermont County 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 loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and improper fuel management by the pilot while on approach. Contributing factors were the low altitude and unsuitable terrain encountered during an emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 2005 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Batavia, Ohio · Clermont County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3425R · no longer on the register · serial 28-5674
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted a field during a forced landing after a total loss of engine power about 500 feet above ground level and while on approach to the destination airport. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank was half full. The fuel selector was positioned to the right fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel pump switch was in the off position. Examination of the engine did not note any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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: 890 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 850 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,907 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I69 Batavia OH at 2:15 pm
- Destination: I69 Batavia OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from LUK, 10 miles away
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.