NYC84FGM01

Factual narrative

AFTER REFUELING AT ITHACA, NY, THE PLTS OF TWO PIPER PA-28 ACFT DEPARTED AS A FLT OF TWO. THEY HAD PLANNED TO CONTINUE THEIR FLT BACK TO CINCINNATI, OH WITH ANOTHER EN ROUTE STOP AT COLUMBUS, OH. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT OF N8163P WAS FOLLOWING THE LEAD ACFT, N6888W. AFTER CHECKING THE WX & OBSERVING LIGHTNING AHEAD, THE FLT LEADER RADIOED THAT HE WAS TURNING BACK TO BRADFORE, PA TO LAND. AT THIS TIME (1915 EST) IT WAS DARK & THE ACFT WERE AT ABOUT 3000 TO 3300 FT MSL. THE #2 PLT TRIED TO KEEP THE LEAD ACFT IN SIGHT, DURING THE TURN, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE LEAD PLANE, THE #2 PLT BECAME DISORIENTED & LOST CONTROL OF HIS ACFT. DURING THE ATTEMPTED RECOVERY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON THE CREST OF A HILL AT APRX 2240 FT MSL. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED, BUT THE 2 OCCUPANTS OF THAT ACFT RECEIVED ONLY MINOR INJURIES. THEY SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE FOREST. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12