Piper PA-28-161 accident near Dushore, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1989
On April 23, 1989 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N2127J, was destroyed in an accident near Dushore, Pennsylvania (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
COLLISION WITH TREES DURING A REJECTED TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE TURF STRIP DUE TO THE PILOTS FAILURE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXISTING WIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1989 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Dushore, Pennsylvania · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N2127J · no longer on the register · serial 28-7916204
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ABORTING THREE PREVIOUS TAKEOFFS, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FOURTH AND ALTHOUGH THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF BEFORE MID FIELD, IT SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT ABORTED THIS TAKEOFF ALSO, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE CRASHING INTO SEVERAL TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE 186 HOUR PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT FLYING TO THAT AIRSTRIP BECAUSE HE HAD INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION ABOUT IT.
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: 186 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 119 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,124 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 24, 1989; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gull Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Doylestown PA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: N88 Doylestown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 1,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.