Two Die in Piper Cherokee Crash Near Akron Airport During Training Flight

Two people were killed May 14, 2025, when a 1963 Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee crashed into a residential home approximately 1.5 miles west-southwest of Akron Fulton International Airport (AKR). The aircraft, registration N7188W, was conducting a training flight with a flight instructor and student pilot aboard when it struck the home during approach to Runway 7 near Abby Lane.

A family inside the home escaped unharmed, though the residence sustained significant damage from the impact and subsequent fire. The National Transportation Safety Board has deployed an investigation team to examine the general aviation accident, with evidence collection including wreckage mapping and pilot records review currently underway.

Aviation safety experts suggest the crash may involve loss of control during the critical base-to-final turn phase, a scenario often associated with low-altitude stalls. The NTSB expects to release a preliminary report within three weeks, with the full investigation determining probable cause once data analysis is complete.