20040418006139A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-24-250 · North Lima, OH · April 18, 2004

Date: April 18, 2004 · 20:30 local
Place: North Lima, OH
Phase of flight: Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N5369P
NTSB investigation: NTSBIAD04FA017
Reported as: Piper PA24250
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 700 total700 in this make and model1 in the last 90 days

N5369PRegistration cancelled Oct 14, 2004 · Piper PA-24-250S/N 24-418 · Built 1958 Airframe modelPiper PA-24-250 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On April 18, 2004, at approximately 2030 EDT, a Piper PA24-250 was destroyed and Dr. James vincent ventresco, the appropriately certificated pilot in command, owner, and sole occupant on board was fatally injured. The flight originated from youngstown elser metro (4G4), North Lima, OH moments before. There is no record of the pilot in command obtaining any weather briefing or filing a flight plan. Witnesses describe one take off and full stop landing had been executed. During the second landing the aircraft struck trees approximately 300 yards east of the approach end of runway 28 at 4G4. Approximately 6' of the outboard section of the left wing separated from the aircraft from the tree strike. Ground impact was approximately 250' west of the tree strike. A post impact fire consumed the cockpit/cabin area of the aircraft.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON APRIL 18, 2004, AT APPROXIMATELY 2030 EDT, A PIPER PA24-250 WAS DESTROYED AND DR. JAMES VINCENT VENTRESCO, THE APPROPRIATELY CERTIFICATED PILOT IN COMMAND, OWNER, AND SOLE OCCUPANT ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM YOUNGSTOWN ELSER METRO (4G4), NORTH LIMA, OH MOMENTS BEFORE. THERE IS NO RECORD OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND OBTAINING ANY WEATHER BRIEFING OR FILING A FLIGHT PLAN. WITNESSES DESCRIBE ONE TAKE OFF AND FULL STOP LANDING HAD BEEN EXECUTED. DURING THE SECOND LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS EAST OF THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 28 AT 4G4. APPROXIMATELY 6' OF THE OUTBOARD SECTION OF THE LEFT WING SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE TREE STRIKE. GROUND IMPACT WAS APPROXIMATELY 250' WEST OF THE TREE STRIKE. A POST IMPACT FIRE CONSUMED THE COCKPIT/CABIN AREA OF THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB IAD04FA017Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportNorth Lima, OHThe pilot's failure to maintain a safe altitude clearance from trees. Factors included the night lighting conditions and the pilot's diminished night vision capability.Apr 19, 2004 · Destroyed