Piper PA-28-181 accident near Oxford, Ohio, June 28, 1985
On June 28, 1985 at about 3:35 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N9459K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oxford, Ohio (Miami Univ. Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. 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
- June 28, 1985 · about 3:35 am local time
- Place
- Oxford, Ohio · Miami Univ. Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N9459K · no longer on the register · serial 28-7690252
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A ROUND-ROBIN FLIGHT AT NIGHT THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE. AS HE WAS RETURNING TO HIS POINT OF ORIGIN THE BATTERY POWER DEPLETED LEAVING HIM WITH NO RADIOS OR LANDING LIGHT AND ONLY A FLASHLIGHT FOR COCKPIT LIGHTING. HE DECIDED TO LAND AT THE CLOSEST AVAILABLE AIRPORT BUT AS HE WAS ON SHORT FINAL THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WENT OUT. HE COULDN'T TURN THEM BACK ON DUE TO HIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE. HE PERFORMED A GO-AROUND BUT BOUNCED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO TWO FENCES ON HIS SUBSEQUENT LANDING. A POST-ACCIDENT MAINT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED A BROKEN FIELD WIRE ON THE ALTERNATOR.
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: 86 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 48 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,141 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 19, 1984; 203 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RID Richmond IN at 3:00 am
- Destination: RID Richmond IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.