Piper PA-28-180 accident near Somerset, Pennsylvania, October 26, 1993
On October 26, 1993 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N6566J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Somerset, Pennsylvania (Somerset airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
was the failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for wind conditions, and maintain directional control. A factor related to the accident were the gusting crosswinds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 1993 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Somerset, Pennsylvania · Somerset · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N6566J · no longer on the register · serial 28-5018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON RUNWAY 24, HE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND; THE AIRPLANE LIFTED, DESCENDED, AND TOUCHED DOWN OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND IT CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WIND WERE GUSTING TO 22 KNOTS.
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: 134 hours in all; 126 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 93 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,947 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1993; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AOO Altoona PA at 4:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 12:00 pm
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.
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.