Piper PA-20 accident near Fremont, Ohio, February 9, 2002
On February 9, 2002 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N2254A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fremont, Ohio (Sandusky County Regional airport). It was a personal 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
Damage to the right tire, which resulted in a sudden loss of tire pressure and a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 2002 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fremont, Ohio · Sandusky County Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N2254A · registry record · serial 20-908
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting closed traffic. While compensating for a "light" right crosswind, he executed a normal approach. The airplane touched down, and then started to pull hard to the right. The airplane exited the runway, and ground looped to the right, with the left wing and elevator impacting the ground. Examination of the right tire revealed a cut consistent with impacting a sharp object. The runway was searched for the object, but nothing was found. Prior to the flight, the pilot inspected the tires, noting no anomalies. He did not inspect all of the right tire because the airplane was equipped with wheel fairings.
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
- Flight time: 1,950 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,925 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 6, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,642 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 26, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S24 Fremont OH
- Destination: S24 OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from TDZ, 316 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.