Piper PA-31-350 accident near West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, September 17, 1985
On September 17, 1985 at about 7:36 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N62994, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Mifflin, Pennsylvania (Allegheny County airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 4 people had minor injuries. 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 17, 1985 · about 7:36 pm local time
- Place
- West Mifflin, Pennsylvania · Allegheny County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N62994 · no longer on the register · serial 31-77552137
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AIR TAXI FLIGHT THE PILOT TRANSMITTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS OUT OF FUEL AND LANDING ON A GOLF COURSE. LESS THAN ONE GALLON OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE WRECKAGE. THE AIRPLANE WAS MAKING AN UNPLANNED RETURN TRIP TO PICK UP PASSENGERS AFTER A CANCELLED BUSINESS MEETING AND THERE WAS A PILOT IN COMMAND CHANGE ON THE RETURN FLIGHT. FUEL QUANTITY WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN ENOUGH.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,080 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 2,850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,226 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 23, 1985; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELM Elmira NY at 6:32 pm
- Destination: G08 Rostraver PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:36 pm from AGC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.