Fairchild 24R-40 accident near Custar, Ohio, October 26, 2004
On October 26, 2004 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Fairchild 24R-40, registered N28539, was substantially damaged in an accident near Custar, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff, which resulted in a collision with terrain. A factor was a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 2004 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Custar, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild 24R-40 · all 24R-40s on the register
- Registration
- N28539 · no longer on the register · serial R40-418
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had his airman and mechanic certificates revoked by the FAA about 2 years prior to the accident. He intended to sell the airplane, and was in the process of reinstalling the original engine, and bringing the airplane up to specifications. On the day of the accident, the pilot started the engine and attempted to depart on runway 18, an approximate 1,100-foot long, 25-foot wide, turf runway. A witness could not see the airplane as it passed behind a barn, but then saw it resting on its right side, off the right side of the runway. The reported wind about the time of the accident, was from 100 degrees at 8 knots. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.
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
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Fairchild 6-440 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Custar OH at 5:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,100 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from TOL, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC05LA010.