Piper PA-28 accident near Grove City, Pennsylvania, October 13, 1992
On October 13, 1992 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N201MA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grove City, Pennsylvania (Grove City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT RAISED THE FLAPS PREMATURELY, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AT TO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO ALLOW RECOVERY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 1992 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Grove City, Pennsylvania · Grove City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N201MA · no longer on the register · serial 28-26771
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET AGL, THE PILOT STARTED TO RETRACT THE FLAPS, THE AIRSPEED DROPPED AND THE STALL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE PILOT SAID THERE WAS NO RUNWAY REMAINING. WHEN HE GOT CLOSE TO THE GROUND HE ATTEMPTED TO FLARE, THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND THE LANDING GEAR 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 628 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 570 as pilot in command; 42 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,073 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 1992; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 29D at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.