Piper PA-28-140 accident near Freeport, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1994
On November 19, 1994 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1470T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freeport, Pennsylvania (Mcville airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF IN AN OVERWEIGHT AIRPLANE, HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW APPROVED SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURES, NOT ATTAINING A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB, AND ATTEMPTING AN OPERATION BEYOND HIS EXPERIENCE LEVEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 1994 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Freeport, Pennsylvania · Mcville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1470T · no longer on the register · serial 28-7225527
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT HAD BEEN ENDORSED FOR THE SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE DEVIATED FROM HIS FLIGHT PLAN, FLEW TO MCVILLE AIRPORT, LANDED, AND BOARDED 2 PASSENGERS. DURING THE TAKEOFF FROM THE 2250-FT LONG TURF RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF, BUT WAS AIRBORNE BRIEFLY BEFORE IT SETTLED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE THEN RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A FENCE, WENT DOWN A HILL AND IMPACTED THE TOP OF TREES. THE AIRPLANE WAS 59 LBS OVER MAX TAKEOFF GROSS WEIGHT, AND THE PILOT HAD USED 10 DEG OF FLAPS FOR TAKEOFF. THE FLIGHT MANUAL RECOMMENDED 25 DEG OF FLAPS FOR A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF.
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: student
- Flight time: 34 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,021 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 30, 1994; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P37 at 5:15 pm
- Destination: P37 PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,250 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.