Piper PA28R-200 accident near Ravenna, Ohio, September 6, 1985
On September 6, 1985 at about 6:22 pm local time, a Piper PA28R-200, registered N55024, was destroyed in an accident near Ravenna, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- September 6, 1985 · about 6:22 pm local time
- Place
- Ravenna, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28R-200 · all PA28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N55024 · no longer on the register · serial 28R7335169
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT CONTINUED VMC INTO IMC. THE PILOT CONTRACTED YOUNGSTOWN ATCT FOR ASSISTANCE. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT PORTIONS OF THE AIRCRAFT SEPARATED. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A WX BRIEFING BEING OBTAINED BY THE PILOT.
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: 100 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 44 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,435 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 24, 1985; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0-360-CIC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VPZ Valparaiso IN at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 981 Marlboro MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from YNG, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.