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Piper PA-28-181 Strikes Tree During Aborted Landing at Put-in-Bay Airport (N2434M)

Put-in-Bay, OH, United States

On June 4, 2012, a PIPER PA-28-181 (registration N2434M) operated by Bluffton Sky Pirates Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Put-in-Bay, OH. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to attain a proper touchdown point at the proper speed, his failure to initiate a go-around, and the airplane’s inadequate climb gradient after the aborted landing, which resulted in impact with the trees. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

On June 4, 2012, a Piper PA-28-181 struck a tree during climbout after an aborted landing at Put-in-Bay Airport, Ohio. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; the pilot and three passengers were uninjured.

Incident Details

On June 4, 2012, at 1217 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181 (registration N2434M) was substantially damaged when it struck a tree during climbout from an aborted landing at Put-in-Bay Airport (3W2), Put-in-Bay, Ohio. The pilot, a private pilot, performed an aborted landing after the airplane touched down too far down runway 3 at a fast speed and began to porpoise. During the subsequent climbout, the left wing struck trees at the departure end of the runway, damaging a left wing rib. The pilot then returned to the airport and landed without further incident. The pilot and three passengers were uninjured.

Aircraft and Crew Information

The airplane was a Piper PA-28-181, registered to and operated by Bluffton Sky Pirates, Inc., under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The flight originated from Bluffton Airport (5G7), Bluffton, Ohio, about 1030, and was destined for 3W2. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

Post-Incident Inspection

According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, no anomalies other than the tree strike damage were found with the airplane.

Contributing factors

Performance/control parameters — Not attained/maintainedPilotDescent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintainedClimb capability — Not attained/maintained

Related events

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 4 Jun 2012 PIPER PA-28-181 accident near Put-in-Bay, OH?

On June 4, 2012, a Piper PA-28-181 struck a tree during climbout after an aborted landing at Put-in-Bay Airport, Ohio. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; the pilot and three passengers were uninjured.

Were there any fatalities in the 4 Jun 2012 PIPER PA-28-181 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 4 Jun 2012 involved a PIPER PA-28-181, registration N2434M, operated by Bluffton Sky Pirates Inc, at Put-in-Bay, OH.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to attain a proper touchdown point at the proper speed, his failure to initiate a go-around, and the airplane’s inadequate climb gradient after the aborted landing, which resulted in impact with the trees.

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