Piper PA-28-160 accident near Indiana, Pennsylvania, January 4, 2009
On January 4, 2009 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5212W, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Indiana, Pennsylvania (Indiana County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to attempt VFR flight in IMC conditions, resulting in a collision with trees during a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 4, 2009 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Indiana, Pennsylvania · Indiana County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5212W · no longer on the register · serial 28-248
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and two passengers took off with the intent to fly around the traffic pattern. The automated weather reporting system for the field reported steadily deteriorating conditions from earlier in the day and up to the time of departure, with instrument meteorological conditions prevailing throughout the flight. The pilot was not instrument rated and the airplane was not equipped for instrument flight. The flight continued after twilight into full darkness. The pilot stated that he encountered fog that obscured his view of the runway. After five unsuccessful approaches, the pilot stated that he could see the lights on runway 28, which was mostly behind the airplane. The pilot elected to make one more go around and attempt to land on the runway; the airplane impacted trees 1,200 feet northwest of the runway. The airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that he had no intentions of flying that day due to the weather. He said that he was only to going to refuel the airplane, but one of the passengers convinced him to take the airplane once in the pattern.
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
What happened, in order
- VFR encounter with IMC during approach
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Flight planning/navigation › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Fog › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 113 hours in all; 113 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,569 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 2008; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IDI Indiana PA at 9:15 pm
- Destination: IDI Indiana PA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 0 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:01 pm from IDI, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.