Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Sandusky, Ohio, November 19, 1984
On November 19, 1984 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N8462U, was destroyed in an accident near Sandusky, Ohio (Sandusky airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- November 19, 1984 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Sandusky, Ohio · Sandusky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8462U · no longer on the register · serial 32R8229008
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AT NIGHT DURING A SHORT FINAL APPROACH TO LAND AND CRASHED TO THE GROUND IN THE BACK YARD OF A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. THE PLT, WHO WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT, SAID HE FLEW A NORMAL PATTERN INTO A 15-20 KT WIND WHEN TREE LIMBS APPEARED IN THE LANDING LIGHTS JUST BEFORE THE COLLISION & GRND IMPACT. THE WX WAS VMC WITH 5000 FT SCATTERED CLOUDS, VISIBILITY 15 MILES, WIND350 DEGREES AT 10 KTS. UNICOM REPORTED THE WIND AS OUT OF THE NORTH AT 15 TO 20 KTS. ALL ACFT COMPONENT PARTS WERE FOUND AT THE SCENE EXCEPT FOR SMALL WINGTIP FIBERGLASS PIECES. THE PLT & PASS'G ARE RECOVERING FROM THEIR INJURIES
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: 6,404 hours in all; 40 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 537 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 24, 1983; 211 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540-51AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ZGZ Steubenville OH at 10:00 pm
- Destination: SKY Sandusky OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from TOL, 60 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.