Piper PA60-601P accident near Willard, Ohio, June 3, 1996
On June 3, 1996 at about 12:51 pm local time, a Piper PA60-601P, registered N86AT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willard, Ohio (Williard airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing flare/touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 1996 · about 12:51 pm local time
- Place
- Willard, Ohio · Williard · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA60-601P · all PA60-601Ps on the register
- Registration
- N86AT · registry record · serial 61P-0364
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, when the airplane was about 35 feet above the ground during the approach to land at the destination airport, it yawed rapidly to the left. The pilot was unable to regain directional control or perform a go-around. The pilot stated that the airplane touched down on the runway '...in a right skid, causing [eventual landing] gear failure.' The police report indicated that there was an 11 mph left quartering headwind for the active runway at the time of the accident.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 26,997 hours in all; 6,093 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 24,698 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,884 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 1996; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,315 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AA1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LNS Lancaster PA at 11:11 am
- Destination: 8G1
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,040 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from MFD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.