Piper PA-24 accident near Erie, Pennsylvania, September 18, 1982
On September 18, 1982 at about 4:05 am local time, a Piper PA-24, registered N6253P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erie, Pennsylvania (Erie International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1982 · about 4:05 am local time
- Place
- Erie, Pennsylvania · Erie International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24 · all PA-24s on the register
- Registration
- N6253P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1360
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED WHEN THE PLANE WAS ABOUT 40 TO 50 FT AGL AND 1/4 MILE FROM THE RUNWAY. THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH APPROACH LIGHTS. AFTER COMING TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT SWITCHED TO ANOTHER FUEL TANK, STARTED THE ENGINE, AND TAXIED TO THE PARKING AREA.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 468 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 468 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,166 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Auburn ME at 8:05 pm
- Destination: Erie PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 144°F (62°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 N6253P 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.