Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Columbia, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1985
On October 18, 1985 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N4576J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia, Pennsylvania (Mcguinness airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- October 18, 1985 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, Pennsylvania · Mcguinness · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4576J · no longer on the register · serial 28R30444
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH 6 FT HIGH POLES DURING AN OVERRUN LANDING. THE PLT STATED HE WAS MAKING A LANDING AND NOTED ON SHORT FINAL THAT THE AIRSPEED WAS EXCESSIVE. THE RWY WAS GRASS WAS FRESHLY CUT, WET AND SLIPPERY. THE ACFT LANDED LONG AND RAN OFF THE END OF THE RWY COLLIDING WITH SEVERAL POLES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.
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: 1,412 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 1,120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,546 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1985; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N12 Lakewood NJ at 1:30 pm
- Destination: 8N7 Columbia PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 1,775 ft by 140 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,300 ft; not recorded at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from LNS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.