Piper PA28R-200 accident near Piqua, Ohio, December 7, 1991
On December 7, 1991 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Piper PA28R-200, registered N55786, was substantially damaged in an accident near Piqua, Ohio (Piqua airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO GET TOO LOW ON SHORT FINAL AND STRUCK THE TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PROPER GLIDE PATH WAS NOT MAINTAINED, RESULTING IN THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT NOT BEING ATTAINED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 1991 · about 3:15 pm local time · cases in 1991
- Place
- Piqua, Ohio · Piqua · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28R-200 · all PA28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N55786 · registry record · serial 28R7335288
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID WHILE ON SHORT FINAL THAT HE WAS FAST, THE '... AIRPLANE SUDDENLY LOST ALTITUDE...', AND HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO ADD POWER. THE MAIN GEAR HIT THE TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLAPSED.
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: 280 hours in all; 187 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,643 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 1991; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-CIC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3I3 Terrhaute IN at 4:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N55786 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N55786 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,639 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,848 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-CIC 8,559 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Piqua/Hartzell Field · nearest airport
- Sky King Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Ohio 1,884 since 1982 · 253 in the last ten years
- Ohio 8,529 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N55786 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/NYC92LA040.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.