Piper PA-25-235 accident near Kutztown, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1993
On June 13, 1993, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N6795Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kutztown, Pennsylvania (Kutztown Aviation Service 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'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH AND EXECUTE A PROPER FLARE. LACK OF FAMILIARITY IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1993
- Place
- Kutztown, Pennsylvania · Kutztown Aviation Service · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N6795Z · no longer on the register · serial 25-2440
- 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 HIS INITIAL LANDING IN THIS AIRPLANE, WHICH HAS ONLY ONE SEAT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, 'THE GLIDE ANGLE, TOUCHDOWN POINT SEEMED GOOD UNTIL AT 150 FEET FROM EDGE (OF RUNWAY) WHEN POWER WAS PURPOSELY REDUCED TO IDLE. THE NOSE DROPPED (EXPECTED) AND THEN RESPONDED TO BACK ELEVATOR (EXPECTED) BUT FAILED TO HOLD THE FLARE ANGLE TO THE RUNWAY EDGE. THE LANDING WAS 50 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE GEAR BROKE AT THE TUBULAR CONNECTION BETWEEN THE LEFT AND RIGHT SPRING GEAR (AND) THE LEFT GEAR DEPARTED.'
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 330 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 270 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,438 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 1993; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Granite Sales, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: N31
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,070 ft by 250 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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 N6795Z 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.