# Accident 20040418006139A: Piper PA24250, North Lima, OH, April 18, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 18, 2004, 20:30 local time
- Place: North Lima, OH
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.9617° N, 80.6653° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9617&lon=-80.6653&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5369P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5369P-2004-10-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-250 (registry code 7102404, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA24250
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 700 total, 700 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD04FA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04FA017) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040418006139A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 IAD04FA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04FA017), Apr 19, 2004: Piper PA-24-250 (N5369P), North Lima, OH, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The 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.

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.

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