Piper PA-23-250 accident near Columbus, Ohio, January 7, 1990
On January 7, 1990 at about 6:21 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N35ST, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Ohio (Port Columbus Int'L airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE WITH A NOSE GEAR STEERING PROBLEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 7, 1990 · about 6:21 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · Port Columbus Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N35ST · registry record · serial 27-7654012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AFTER THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY DURING A LANDING ROLL. A WITNESS WHO OBSERVED THE AIPRLANE FLYING ON FINAL APPROACH REPORTED THAT THE NOSE WHEEL WAS CANTED TO THE LEFT APPROXIMATELY 60 DEGS. THE PILOT REPORTED HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAXI PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND STATED THE TURNING LIMITS OF THE NOSE WHEEL HAD BEEN EXCEEDED DURING GROUND HANDLING OPERATIONS. POST ACCIDENTS INSPECTION REVEALED A BROKEN STEERING LINK IN THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY AND A CRACKED GEAR STRUT HOUSING AT THE NOSE GEAR STEERING TRAVEL STOP.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 615 hours in all; 229 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 574 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,333 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 27, 1989; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-CIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D36 Duluth MN at 3:05 pm
- Destination: CMH Columbus OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28, 10,701 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from CMH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.