Piper PA-23-180 accident near Akron, Ohio, July 12, 2003
On July 12, 2003 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-180, registered N825SA, was destroyed in an accident near Akron, Ohio (Akron/Canton International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain minimum control single engine airspeed (Vmc) during a loss of power on one engine, which resulted in a loss of control in flight an in-flight collision with terrain. A factor was a shifted main journal, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2003 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Akron, Ohio · Akron/Canton International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-180 · all PA-23-180s on the register
- Registration
- N825SA · no longer on the register · serial 23-1167
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to take off, the pilot conducted a pre-flight inspection and engine run-up, and found "nothing unusual." On the take off roll, he rotated at 80 mph. As the airplane began to climb, the pilot said the left engine rpm dropped to 1,500 RPM, and the airplane veered left. He was unable to maintain altitude or directional control, and contacted the ground with the left wing first, followed by the nose. A witness stated that when the airplane was 15-20 feet above the ground, he heard a loud popping noise. The engines revved up and it looked like the airplane was going to land, but continued to climb with louder than normal engine revs. The engines were examined under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, and no mechanical deficiencies were noted. The airplane was released to the owner, who later sold it to an airplane salvage company. According to a representative of the salvage company, during a teardown of the left engine, the main bearing was found partially seated on the journal. It appeared blue in color. At the time of the accident, the engine had accrued a total of 1,607 hours since field overhaul.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 520 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2003; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CAK Akron-Canton Re OH at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 3G3 Wadsworth Munic OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 7,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 3:25 pm from CAK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.