Piper PA28-180 accident near South Webster, Ohio, February 6, 1990
On February 6, 1990 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Piper PA28-180, registered N5236L, was substantially damaged in an accident near South Webster, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ENGINE FAILURE. SOFT TERRAIN IN THE FORCED LANDING AREA IS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 1990 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- South Webster, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-180 · all PA28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5236L · no longer on the register · serial 28-4530
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE DURING A PERSONAL FLIGHT. IT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN ALL THREE LANDING GEAR FAILED DURING AN OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING TO A GRASSY SOFT FIELD. THE PRIVATE CERTIFICATED PILOT AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED A SIX INCH DIAMETER HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE ENGINE CRANKCASE AND A MATERIAL FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 2 CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY AND CONNECTING ROD BOLTS.
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: 131 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 96 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,926 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 1989; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PMH Portsmouth OH at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.