# NTSB investigations: Piper PA-28-181, PA

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA307.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Altoona, PA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 14, 2026 · N586MA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s descent below the glidepath and collision with trees during a missed approach.
- [NTSB ERA26LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA156.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Philadelphia, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Apr 1, 2026 · N494LA · Substantial damage
  > On April 1, 2026, about 1541 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N494LA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The flight instructor received minor injuries, and the student pilot received serious…
- [NTSB ERA23LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA193.md): Piper PA-28-181 · West Mifflin, PA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 10, 2023 · N476TA · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s decision to abort the takeoff and land on the runway without sufficient runway remaining, which resulted in a runway overrun.
- [NTSB ERA09LA296](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA296.md): Piper PA-28 · Dingman, PA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 18, 2009 · N4130W · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power in flight due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning.
- [NTSB NYC06CA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA102.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Jeannette, PA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 23, 2006 · N6775F · Substantial damage
  > Excessively worn brake pads and rotors, which resulted in a runway overrun and subsequent collision with a tree.
- [NTSB IAD05CA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05CA018.md): Piper PA 28-181 · York, PA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 25, 2004 · N720GP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and his decision to depart from a rain-soaked runway with strong quartering tailwinds, which resulted in a runway overrun and collision with a fence during the aborted takeoff.
- [NTSB NYC04FA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04FA179.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Exton, PA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 27, 2004 · N91075 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the airplane impacting a residence. Factors in the accident were the pilot's lack of recent instrument experience.
- [NTSB NYC04FA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04FA077.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Corry, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 27, 2004 · N4166P · Substantial damage
  > The loss of partial engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's lost of control after performing an evasive maneuver to avoid trees during a forced landing at night. Factors related to the accident were a rough running engine and the pilot's…
- [NTSB NYC98LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA105.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Bally, PA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 29, 1998 · N4506Z · Destroyed
  > failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll; and/or his failure to abort the takeoff, while there was sufficient space available to do so without hitting trees.
- [NTSB IAD98LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA016.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Bally, PA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 16, 1997 · N8068Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point. Related factors were tailwind, and lack of total experience.
- [NTSB NYC97LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA167.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Brickerville, PA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 19, 1997 · N8262K · Substantial damage
  > Fuel starvation as a result of the pilot performing a takeoff with the fuel selector in the 'OFF' position.
- [NTSB NYC97LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA023.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Long Pond, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 30, 1996 · N4839F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and improper inflight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power, due to an inadequate supply of fuel. Darkness and trees in the emergency landing area were related…
- [NTSB NYC95FA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95FA033.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Doylestown, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 22, 1994 · N2949Q · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's descent below the published minimum circling altitude, and his failure to execute the published missed approach procedure during a night IFR instrument approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees.
- [NTSB NYC91LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA149.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Dushore, PA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 3, 1991 · N2177X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot landed with excessive airspeed, which resulted in ineffective braking and a loss of control.
- [NTSB NYC90FA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90FA117.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Rome, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 29, 1990 · N8376N · Destroyed
  > An inflight loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of an instrument rating, and his decision to make the flight after receiving three separate briefings where he was told 'VFR flight not recommended.'
- [NTSB NYC89LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA042.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Chambersburg, PA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 4, 1988 · N2179Y · Destroyed
  > The pilot of the Piper PA-28 was at cruise altitude and getting advisories from ATC. ATC gave him a SIGMET for turbulence when he noted his fuel was getting low. He decided to land at a nearby airport and was told by ATC that the airport he wanted was at his…
- [NTSB NYC87LA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA246.md): Piper PA-28 · Harrisburg, PA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 5, 1987 · N3023M · Substantial damage
  > The aircraft engine lost power while descending for a landing. The plt stated that when he advanced the throttle the engine quit completely. During lndg alongside a turnpike, the nose wheel collapsed and the prop was damaged. Investigation revealed that the…
- [NTSB NYC84LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA018.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Prospectville, PA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 1, 1983 · N39955 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot said that as he turned final he was too high and to the right of the rwy so he slipped the acft to the left to line up. The left fuel tank, which he was using was very low on fuel. The aprch was too high so he decided to go around. As the acft was…
- [NTSB NYC82DA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82DA178.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Dubois, PA · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Aug 1, 1982 · N2852E · Substantial damage
  > After power interruption during cruise the pilot returned to the airport for landing. Turning base leg the engine ouit. The pilot cut short the base leg and landed on the grass beside runway 25. No reasons for engine malfunction was found.
- [NTSB NYC81FHD17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FHD17.md): Piper PA-28 · Bristol, PA · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Mar 27, 1981 · N2876Z · Substantial damage
- [NTSB NYC80FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC80FA088.md): Piper PA-28 · Montgomeryvill, PA · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Sep 14, 1980 · N5055F · Substantial damage
- [NTSB NYC80DHA06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC80DHA06.md): Piper PA-28 · Mount Pocono, PA · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Feb 17, 1980 · N2902S · Substantial damage
- [NTSB NYC79FA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FA058.md): Piper PA-28 · Blng Springs, PA · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Jul 15, 1979 · N2216G · Destroyed
- [NTSB NYC77FGT04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC77FGT04.md): Piper PA-28 · Philipsburg, PA · Accident · Minor injuries · Closed · Nov 26, 1976 · N75049 · Substantial damage
- [NTSB NYC76DGM23](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC76DGM23.md): Piper PA-28 · Beaver Falls, PA · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Jan 22, 1976 · N4489X · Substantial damage

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'PA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7102807', '7102832'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?model=7102807&state=PA

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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.
