Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Elyria, Ohio, April 3, 2004
On April 3, 2004 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N19AG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elyria, Ohio (Elyria airport). It was an instructional 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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2004 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Elyria, Ohio · Elyria · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N19AG · no longer on the register · serial 28R-180
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) and a private pilot had been flying for about 50 minutes, when they returned for landing. The airplane was about 2 miles from the approach end of the runway, when it experienced a loss of engine power. The CFI attempted to glide to the airport; however, the airplane struck the ground about 700 feet prior to the runway. The airplane had been operated for about 2.5 hours since it's most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 5 days prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. Control continuity was confirmed for the propeller, throttle, and mixture controls. Piston and valve train continuity were observed when the propeller was rotated by hand. Both the left and right magnetos produced spark when rotated. The engine-driven and fuel boost pumps operated normally, and the fuel system was absent of contamination.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 475 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 411 as pilot in command; 167 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 4, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land
- Flight time: 132 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 10, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,427 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 29, 2004; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1G1 Elyria OH
- Destination: 1G1 Elyria OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,053 ft by 48 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from LPR, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.