# Accident 19940416016019A: Piper PA32R300, Salem, OH, April 16, 1994

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 16, 1994, 01:04 local time
- Place: Salem, OH
- Airport: Salem Airpark Inc Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.8992° N, 80.8494° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8992&lon=-80.8494&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8685C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8685C-2013-07-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R300
- Reported engine: LYC IO540K1A5
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 110 total, 14 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB BFO94FA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94FA066) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940416016019A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FLYING EN ROUTE AT NIGHT. LOW TIME AND IN MARGINAL VFR. ENTERED A STORM AEAR LOST CONTROL. CAME APART IN DESCENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB BFO94FA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94FA066), Apr 16, 1994: Piper PA-32R-300 (N8685C), Salem, OH, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS…

## Other reports on N8685C (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19901010059919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901010059919I), Oct 10, 1990: Piper PA32R300 (N8685C), Indianapolis, IN. Unsafe gear down indication on final. Landed safely. Cockpit lights dimmed and pilot did not see safe light.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.