Piper PA-31T accident near Swanton, Ohio, January 31, 1992
On January 31, 1992 at about 9:06 pm local time, a Piper PA-31T, registered N6038A, was destroyed in an accident near Swanton, Ohio (Toledo Express airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 1992 · about 9:06 pm local time
- Place
- Swanton, Ohio · Toledo Express · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31T · all PA-31Ts on the register
- Registration
- N6038A · registry record · serial 31T-7820072
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE ROUTINE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS IN PREPARATION FOR TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED FROM RUNWAY 25 IN DAYLIGHT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) WITH LIGHT SNOW AND FOG. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE'S RADAR TARGET DISAPPEARED FROM THE CONTROLLER'S SCOPE. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ON WOODED TERRAIN ABOUT TWO MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 25. IMPACT OCCURRED IN AN STEEP, NOSE DOWN, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY GROUND IMPACT FORCES AND A POST-IMPACT FIRE. NO PHYSICAL INCAPACITATION OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS DETERMINED. NO CONTRIBUTORY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRPLANE WERE DISCOVERED.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,850 hours in all; 3,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 17, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 5,110 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-28 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TOL Toledo OH at 9:05 pm
- Destination: AFJ Washington PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25, 10,600 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:05 pm from TOL, 2 miles away
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.