Piper PA-22-150 accident near Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1991
On July 4, 1991 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N7315D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania (Skyhaven airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL ON TAKEOFF WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE FOR RECOVERY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY SET THE ELEVATOR TRIM PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1991 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania · Skyhaven · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7315D · registry record · serial 22-5103
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO TAKEOFF THE PILOT FAILED TO DETECT THE ELEVATOR TRIM WAS SET FOR NOSE UP AND ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO BECOME AIRBORNE PREMATURELY AND STALL. THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE AND CAME 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
- Flight time: 62 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 23 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skyhaven Airport, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 1,975 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 7 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N7315D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.