Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Put-In-Bay, Ohio, July 2, 1994
On July 2, 1994 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N5716F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Put-In-Bay, Ohio (Monica Drake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE CONTROL AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN COLLISION WITH A SIGN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1994 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Put-In-Bay, Ohio · Monica Drake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N5716F · registry record · serial 32R7780018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WROTE IN HIS STATEMENT THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE LEFT LANDING GEAR 'FELT FUNNY,' AND THE AIRPLANE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER, AND THE AIRPLANE 'PULLED...TO THE RIGHT.' THE PILOT BROUGHT THE AIRPLANE TO A STOP BY REDUCING THE POWER, APPLYING THE BRAKES, AND RIGHT RUDDER. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS THE AIRPLANE, 'CAME IN, HOT,' AND TOUCHED DOWN BEFORE THE RUNWAY NUMBERS. THE LEFT WING 'DIPPED LEFT, 20-30 DEGREES,' THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LANDING BY ADDING POWER TO THE ENGINE. THE LEFT WING DIPPED AND STRUCK A SIGN NEAR THE RUNWAY, WHICH RESULTED IN THE WING SEPARATING, AND CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO VEER OFF TO THE LEFT. TIRE MARKS SHOWED THAT THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 243 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 179 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CMH Columbus OH at 2:30 pm
- Destination: OH30
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,870 ft by 22 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from CLE, 59 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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 N5716F 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.