- Date
- March 24, 1985, 05:30 local (10:30 UTC)
- Place
- Zelienople, PA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8429TPiper PA-32R-301
- Weather
- Night/bright
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850324011089A
- Case key
- 35847
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft collided with trees shortly after takeoff. Prior to takeoff the plt was made aware that the lock cylinder for the cabin door was broken. Upon reaching an alt of 1800 ft, the cabin door popped open. The plt attempted to secure the door after activating the autopilot. The plt stated an electrical failure was then experienced. A 180 deg turn was made in an attempt to return to the arpt. After viewing lights, which the plt believed to be rwy lights, he attempted to set-up for a landing while trying to hold the door shut. The acft then stalled and contacted trees. Ground witnesses reported that heavy rain and fog was present in the area at the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8429T
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32R-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-K1G5, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Central Skyport
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Zelienople, PA
- Destination
- Columbus, OH
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 442 total · 4 in this make and model · 390 as pilot in command · 26 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Night/bright
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.