Piper PA 28R-200 accident near Doylestown, Pennsylvania, September 7, 2015
On September 7, 2015 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1975 Piper PA 28R-200, registered N1125X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Doylestown, Pennsylvania (Doylestown 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to land with sufficient runway remaining to safely stop the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's fatigue during the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 2015 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Doylestown, Pennsylvania · Doylestown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28R-200 200, built 1975 · all PA 28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N1125X · registry record · serial 28R-7535251
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the landing, she "landed at the last 1000' of available runway and attempted to stop the aircraft using toe brakes and aerodynamic braking, but this was insufficient." The airplane departed the runway into the grass and the right wing struck a taxiway light. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot also stated, "I feel this accident could have been prevented by executing a go-around and trying a lower approach as opposed to trying to save the landing. I attribute this lack of judgment to fatigue." The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Alertness/Fatigue › (general) › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Taxiway lighting › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 336 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 214 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 7, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,316 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 8,316 hours total
- Operator: Leading Edge Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: XLL Allentown PA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: DYL Doylestown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 3,002 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from KDYL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA15CA263.