Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Wauseon, Ohio, June 12, 2000
On June 12, 2000 at about 11:20 am local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N8197W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wauseon, Ohio (Fulton County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2000 · about 11:20 am local time
- Place
- Wauseon, Ohio · Fulton County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8197W · registry record · serial 32R8029050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While executing a non-precision approach, the pilot flew over the centerline of the runway and made a 180-degree turn to land on the reciprocal runway. During the turn, the pilot overshot the extended centerline. While maneuvering back to the runway centerline, the airplane stalled just above the runway and impacted the ground, before coming rest in a water drainage ditch. After the accident, the pilot stated that his airspeed was 'about 80 knots but less because stalled about then.'
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 679 hours in all; 288 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 566 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,343 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CYPQ Peterborough
- Destination: USE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 9, 3,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1.8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from TOL, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N8197W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.