Piper PA-28 accident near Albany, Ohio, June 18, 1989
On June 18, 1989 at about 12:24 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N40973, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albany, Ohio (Ohio University airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
SEIZURE OF THE #4 EXHAUST VALVE AND BENDING OF ITS RESPECTIVE PUSH ROD, WHICH RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: LACK OF A SUITABLE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA, TREES, AND THE FENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1989 · about 12:24 pm local time
- Place
- Albany, Ohio · Ohio University · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N40973 · registry record · serial 28-7425197
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DRG THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, A PARTIAL POWER LOSS OF THE ENG OCCURRED & THE PLT WAS FORCED TO LAND. UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE ARPT, HE SELECTED THE ONLY AVAILABLE LANDING SITE, WHICH WAS ABOUT 300 FT LONG & 200 WIDE. THIS AREA WAS BORDERED BY TREES & 30 FT POWER LINES. JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE RIGHT WING SEVERED LEAVES FROM A TREE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT SLID INTO ANOTHER TREE & A FENCE. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THE #4 EXHAUST VALVE WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION & ITS RESPECTIVE PUSH ROD WAS BENT.
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: 147 hours in all; 143 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 93 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,929 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 19, 1988; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UNI
- Destination: I77 Cincinnati OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:55 am from LCK, 49 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.