Piper PA-24-250 accident near Pleasant Hill, Ohio, February 13, 1982
On February 13, 1982, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5266P, was destroyed in an accident near Pleasant Hill, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 1982
- Place
- Pleasant Hill, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5266P · no longer on the register · serial 7102404
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENROUTE, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CLIMB OVER THE WEATHER RATHER THAN FLY THROUGH IT. AT ABOUT 12,000 FT MSL OVER THE WEATHER, HE ENCOUNTERED AN ENGINE PROBLEM. HE INITIATED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND INFORMED DAYTON APPROACH CONTROL OF HIS PROBLEM. UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE, HE MADE A CRASH LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD AT DUSK. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 880 hours in all; 880 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 668 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,527 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DPA Chicago OH at 5:00 pm
- Destination: DAY Vandalia OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.