Piper PA-46-350P accident near Lancaster, Ohio, July 13, 1994
On July 13, 1994 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registered N800CE, was destroyed in an accident near Lancaster, Ohio. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1994 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-350P · all PA-46-350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N800CE · no longer on the register · serial 4622020
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS ON TAKEOFF CLIMB, ABOUT 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, WHEN THE ENGINE PARTIALLY AND THEN TOTALLY LOST POWER. THE PILOT DID A FORCED LANDING IN A BEAN FIELD. THE FLIGHT OCCURRED FOLLOWING MAINTENANCE TO CHECK A LOW MANIFOLD PRESSURE CONDITION. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, A 'FULL' ENGINE RUNUP WAS DONE BEFORE TAKEOFF. HE STATED: 'THE TAKEOFF WAS SMOOTH, WE ROTATED AT AN AIRSPEED OF SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 80 KNOTS. THE CLIMB FOR THE FIRST 350 (FEET OF ALTITUDE), AIRSPEED WAS ROUTINE...I FELT A POWER LOSS AND NOTICED THE MAINFOLD PRESSURE DROPPING. AT THIS POINT I FELT I HAD ENOUGH POWER TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT...AS THE TURN WAS BEING COMPLETED, POWER WENT OUT COMPLETELY.' THE POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 2,400 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: DSM Des Moines IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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 N800CE 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.