Piper PA-28-161 accident near Bluffton, Ohio, May 31, 1995
On May 31, 1995 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8115L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bluffton, Ohio (Bluffton airport). It was an instructional 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
an improperly planned approach and touchdown, which resulted in an loss of directional control at touchdown, with the airplane departing the runway, and striking a ravine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1995 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bluffton, Ohio · Bluffton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8115L · registry record · serial 28-8016119
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED HIS FINAL APPROACH SPEED WAS, 'A LITTLE FAST' AS HE CAME IN FOR A LANDING. ADDITIONALLY, HE REPORTED, '...VERY LITTLE CROSSWIND. WINDSOCK WAS LIMP...AS SOON AS MY WHEELS TOUCHED DOWN, EVERYTHING WENT TO THE LEFT....' THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, INTO A RAVINE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES OR THE WHEELS.
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: 75 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,959 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 24, 1995; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,525 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Griffing Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SKY Sandusky OH at 4:45 pm
- Destination: 5G7
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,125 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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 N8115L 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.