Piper PA-24-250 accident near Tioga, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1985
On July 14, 1985 at about 9:41 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N7934P, was destroyed in an accident near Tioga, Pennsylvania (Hughes airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- July 14, 1985 · about 9:41 pm local time
- Place
- Tioga, Pennsylvania · Hughes · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7934P · no longer on the register · serial 24-3168
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT INITIATED A DOWNWIND LANDING ON A GRASS RWY THAT SLOPED MOSTLY UPHILL, BUT BEGAN SLOPING DOWNHILL AT ITS DEPARTURE END. A WITNESS NEAR THE APCH END OF THE 2150 FT RWY WATCHED THE ACFT TOUCH DOWN BEYOND ITS MIDPOINT, THEN DISAPPEAR OVER ITS CRESTED END. A WITNESS NEAR THE DEPARTURE END HEARD THE ACFT & 'TURNED TO WATCH THE PLANE TAKEOFF.' HE STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS HEADED TOWARD TREES & THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE PLT WAS TRYING TO PULL UP. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES ON DOWNSLOPING TERRAIN, CRASHED & BURNED. ONE PASSENGER, THE PLT'S SON, SURVIVED THE CRASH,BUT DIED LATER DUE TO THE INJURIES & BURNS. AN EXAM OF THE CRASH AREA REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD HIT A BARB WIRE FENCE. ONE OF THE PROP BLADES HAD A BARB WIRE RADIUS NICK MARK ON ITS LEADING EDGE. PREVIOUSLY, THE PLT HAD STATED THAT AT THISARPT, HE PREFERRED TO ALWAYS LAND UPHILL, REGARDLESS OF THE WIND. THE WIND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 215 DEG AT 10 GUSTING 15 KTS.
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: 1,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Detroit MI at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 31N
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,150 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 215° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:55 pm from ELM, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.