Piper PA-28-180 accident near Du Bois, Pennsylvania, June 5, 2006
On June 5, 2006 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N1654B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Du Bois, Pennsylvania (Du-Bois Jefferson Cty Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in a stall and subsequent impact with the ground. A factor was the wind gust as reported by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2006 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Du Bois, Pennsylvania · Du-Bois Jefferson Cty Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N1654B · no longer on the register · serial 28-7305281
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the pilot flared for landing a gust of wind lifted the airplane at "an extremely high angle to the runway, and then quit." The airplane then "stalled," impacted the ground, and caught fire. The pilot reported he had accumulated 528 hours of total flight experience at the time of the accident. He additionally reported experiencing no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector also revealed no mechanical deficiencies. The winds reported at the airport, at the time of the accident were variable at 3 knots.
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: 528 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 448 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,041 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,475 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8G7 Zelienople PA
- Destination: DUJ Du Bois PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 5,504 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from DUJ
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.