Piper PA-24-260 accident near Bradford, Pennsylvania, January 10, 2004
On January 10, 2004 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-260, registered N1XF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bradford, Pennsylvania (Bradford Regional 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 2004 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Bradford, Pennsylvania · Bradford Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N1XF · no longer on the register · serial 24-4479
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to departing his home airport, the pilot topped off the main fuel tanks. The flight departed with both fuel selectors positioned to "Main." After an approximate 2 hour flight, the pilot was approaching his home airport, and the fuel selectors remained on "Main." While descending from 6,000 feet to 4,000 feet, the engine "hiccupped," and then experienced several minor power surges, before losing total power. The pilot established a proper glide speed, and attempted a straight-in approach for the nearest runway at the home airport. During the glide, the pilot completed the emergency checklist items, which included verification that the electric fuel pump was on, and cycling the fuel selectors through all tanks. The pilot was unable to restart the engine, and continued the glide toward runway 23. The pilot maintained glide speed, but the airplane impacted small trees about 2,500 to 3,000 feet prior to the runway. Examination of the engine did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. Fuel was observed in all fuel tanks, and fuel was present from the selector valve, to the fuel servo, to the flow divider. When power was applied to the electric fuel pump, it operated continuously. Further examination of the engine revealed that the throttle idle adjustment bushing was missing. However, it was unknown if the bushing separated during flight, or during the forced landing. Subsequently, a flow test of the fuel servo and flow divider did not reveal any discrepancies that would have resulted in a total loss of engine power.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 570 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 530 as pilot in command; 195 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 21, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 27, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,214 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2003; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SYR Syracuse NY at 6:30 pm
- Destination: BFD Bradford PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 6,499 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 5°F (-15°C), dew point -8°F (-22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from BFD, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N1XF 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.