Cessna 180 accident near Freedom, Pennsylvania, October 27, 2004
On October 27, 2004 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N2922C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freedom, Pennsylvania (Kindelberger Landing Strip airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed, 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during the takeoff resulting in an in-flight collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2004 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Freedom, Pennsylvania · Kindelberger Landing Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N2922C · no longer on the register · serial 30822
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The local parachuting flight was to depart from the airport owned and maintained by the pilot. During the initial climb after takeoff from runway 09, the airplane drifted right and struck trees about 500 feet down the runway. The pilot stated that he did not see the trees before hitting them. A passenger stated that the pilot did not make any changes to the airplane's flight path prior to impact with the trees. The pilot and passenger both reported that the airplane's engine was operating normally.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 8,874 hours in all; 8,374 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 23, 2002
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,677.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 2004; 49.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 24PA Freedom PA at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 1,515 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from PIT, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.