Piper PA-24-250 accident near Bowling Green, Ohio, March 23, 1997
On March 23, 1997 at about 6:41 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6561P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bowling Green, Ohio (Bowling Green Wood County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in airframe ice and the loss of adequate lift to maintain continued flight. The adverse weather (icing) condition was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 1997 · about 6:41 pm local time
- Place
- Bowling Green, Ohio · Bowling Green Wood County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6561P · registry record · serial 24-1683
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was vectored in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) for a VOR Runway 18 Approach to the destination airport. The pilot reported the airport in sight, and was cleared for a visual approach. However, while descending, ice had accumulated on the flight control surfaces that was visible to the pilot. On final approach to the 2,627 foot runway, the pilot elected to go around. She initiated the go-around because the runway appeared 'icy,' and she feared she would be unable to stop before encountering a fence and highway at the departure end. The pilot intended to land on a perpendicular runway after the go-around. The landing gear and flaps were retracted, and full power was applied, but the pilot was unable to maintain flight and landed in a field beyond the highway.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 711 hours in all; 427 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 622 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,440 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 20, 1997; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALB Albany NY at 3:00 pm
- Destination: BWG KY
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 18, 2,627 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from TOL, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.