Piper PA-23-250 accident near Clarion, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1985
On April 18, 1985 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N506AC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarion, Pennsylvania (Clarion CO. airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- April 18, 1985 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Clarion, Pennsylvania · Clarion CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N506AC · registry record · serial 277305018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO POSITION THE AIRCRAFT AT PITTSBURGH, PA. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL AT BUFFALO, TWO TO THREE SHORT POWER SURGES IN THE NO. 1 ENGINE WERE EXPERIENCED BUT THE PILOT DECIDED NOT TO ABORT AND CONTINUED TO DESTINATION. THE AIRCRAFT RAN SMOOTHLY WITH THE MIXTURE LEANED AND THE RPM AT 2400. HOWEVER WHEN THE PILOT FURTHER LEAN THE LEFT MIXTURE, THE NO. 1 ENGINE BEGAN TO SURGE AS THOUGH IT WAS FUEL STARVED. A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE AT CLARION AIRPORT, WHILE LANDING, AT 60 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ROLLING OFF THE RUNWAY THROUGH THE GRASS AND OVER A 10' CLIFF.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 170 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 2,066 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BUF Buffalo NY at 11:15 am
- Destination: AGC Pittburgh PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 am from DUJ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.