Piper PA-34-220T accident near Painesville, Ohio, April 14, 2001
On April 14, 2001 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-220T, registered N8081Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Painesville, Ohio (Concord Airpark airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain the proper descent rate and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2001 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Painesville, Ohio · Concord Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · all PA-34-220Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8081Q · registry record · serial 34-8233075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor said the purpose of the flight was to provide multi-engine instruction to the private pilot, and to practice short-field landings. The private pilot completed one short-field landing, and was on final approach for the second short-field landing when the landing gear struck the leading edge of the runway, and collapsed. He said the airplane was stabilized on the approach for landing when the flight instructor made an abrupt, nose-down input to the control yoke. The flight instructor stated that he had "lowered the nose" to increase airspeed during the approach, in compensation for gusty conditions. According to the flight instructor, the airplane encountered a downdraft in close proximity to the ground, and he was unable to take the controls and arrest the descent before the airplane struck the leading edge of the runway. Neither pilot obtained a weather briefing prior to departure. Both pilots reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. According to an FAA Inspector, two wheel marks were observed in the muddy grass area approximately 4 feet from the approach end of the runway.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 2,400 as pilot in command; 1,850 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 18, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 215 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 148 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 10, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,263 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 2001; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO 360 KB1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO 360 KB1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: T&G Flying, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: LNN Willoughby OH at 1:10 pm
- Destination: 2G1 Painesville OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,200 ft by 38 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from CGF, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.