Piper PA-31-350 accident near Seven Springs, Pennsylvania, August 11, 1984
On August 11, 1984 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N9202Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seven Springs, Pennsylvania (Seven Springs airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- August 11, 1984 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Seven Springs, Pennsylvania · Seven Springs
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N9202Y · registry record · serial 8414004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER REFUELING, THE PLT TOOK OFF FROM A 3000 FT RWY LOCATED IN A MOUNTAINOUS REGION. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER A NORMAL ROTATION & LIFT-OFF, HE ESTABLISHED A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB. HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, DURING GEAR RETRACTION, THE ACFT BEGAN TO SETTLE. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THIS OCCURRED WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED EITHER A STRONG DOWNDRAFT OR A WINDSHEAR CONDITION. TREES BECAME VISIBLE & THE PLT INCREASED THE PITCH ATTITUDE, BUT THE ACFT STRUCK THE TREETOPS. THE ACFT CONTINUED FLYING & WAS SAFELY LANDED AT ANOTHER ARPT, BUT THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS, THE RIGHT WING TIP, THE LEFT FLAP & THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WERE DAMAGED. THE PLT SAID THE ARPT WAS LOCATED ON A MOUNTAIN TOP WHICH WAS SURROUNDED BY HIGHER MOUNTAINS. THE DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 4500 FT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,651 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 108 in the last 90 days; 5,651 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 430 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-V2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ACY Atlantic City NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 42 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.