Piper PA-28-235 accident near Altoona, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1987
On September 6, 1987 at about 3:04 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N8692W, was destroyed in an accident near Altoona, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- September 6, 1987 · about 3:04 pm local time
- Place
- Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8692W · no longer on the register · serial 28-10225
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED CLEVELAND, OH AT APPROX 0915 HOURS ON AN UNAUTHORIZED FLT TO ATLANTIC CITY, NJ. THE PLT WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT OR CONDUCT THE FLT DUE TO HIS LICENSE HAVING BEEN REVOKED IN 1977 FOR REPEATEDLY VIOLATING FARS. NEAR ALTOONA, PA THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED IFR WX CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED AN INFLIGHT CONTROL SURFACE SEPARATION. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THERE WAS NO POSTCRASH FIRE, THE PLT WAS NOT IN CONTACT WITH ANY ATC FACILITY, AND THERE IS NO RECORD OF ANY WX BRIEFING OBTAINED BY THE PLT. THE PLT'S FLT TIMES WERE NOT REPORTED OR AVAILABLE.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,596 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1987; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cleveland OH
- Destination: Altoona PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:14 pm from AOO, 7 miles away
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.