Piper PA-28-180 accident near Elyria, Ohio, July 10, 2005
On July 10, 2005 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N9233J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elyria, Ohio (Elyria airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during initial climb, as reported by the pilot, for an undetermined reason which resulted in a collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2005 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elyria, Ohio · Elyria · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N9233J · no longer on the register · serial 28-3306
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane accelerated and lifted off of the 3,053-foot-long, asphalt runway; however, when the airplane was about 200 to 300 feet above the ground, he felt a loss of engine power. The airplane began to sink, impacted trees, and came to rest in a wooded area, about 600 feet northeast of the departure end of the runway. Post accident examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. Review of airplane maintenance records revealed the most recent annual inspection was performed about 7 months prior to the accident. The airplane had been operated for 3 hours since the inspection, and a total of about 50 hours during the 3 years prior to the inspection. The pilot reported 225 hours of total flight experience, which included about 57 hours accumulated in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 226 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 164 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,552 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2004; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1G1 Elyria OH at 9:20 pm
- Destination: 1D2 Plymouth MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 09, 3,053 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from LPR, 4 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.