Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Akron, New York, October 2, 1992
On October 2, 1992 at about 11:57 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N9242K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Akron, New York (Akron airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR ADVERSE WINDS AND WIND SHEAR. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 1992 · about 11:57 pm local time
- Place
- Akron, New York · Akron · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N9242K · registry record · serial 28R-7635228
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A VFR LANDING ON RUNWAY 24. THE REPORTED WIND WAS FROM 250 DEGREES AT 22 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 32 KNOTS. THE PILOT SAID, 'I WAS APPROACHING IN A STANDARD AND NORMAL MANNER...ABOUT TWO MILES...I HAD A VISUAL ON THE AIRPORT. ON FINAL DESCENT MY FLIGHT SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 110 MPH...AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 1100 TO 1000 FEET, A SUDDEN CHANGE IN THE WIND FORCED MY AIRPLANE TO DROP. I HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO REACT.' THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE FAA INSPECTOR SAID, '...IT APPEARS THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS.'
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 782 hours in all; 323 in this make and model; 16.5 in the last 90 days; 11.5 in the last 30 days; 642 as pilot in command; 137 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,110 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 27, 1992; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORF Norfolk VA at 9:57 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 3,310 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 250° at 22 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.