Butler Farm Show Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Butler, Pennsylvania 15010
Monday, April 14, 1997 22:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot departed a 2,580 foot asphalt runway with a displaced threshold of 180 feet for a local flight. When he returned, he entered the left downwind for a night landing on runway 18. On final approach, he observed that the airplane was too high, and he performed a go-around. During the second landing attempt, the pilot reported that the airplane touched down in the vicinity of the approach end of the runway. The pilot stated that he applied brakes and that the brakes 'locked up.' The airplane overran the end of the runway, went across grass, and came to rest on a road. A student-pilot passenger aboard the airplane stated that on the second approach, the pilot was high, and the airplane continued to float while flaring, 'experiencing ground effect.' Examination of the airplane brake system did not disclose evidence of a mechanical malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed on final approach; his failure to attain the proper touchdown point; and his failure to perform a go-around, while there was still sufficient airspeed and runway remaining, which resulted in an overrun and subsequent damage to the airplane. Darkness was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/14/1997
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2245
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BUTLER
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 15010
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BUTLER FARM SHOW
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3G9
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1333
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2223 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 80
Weather Observation Facility ID BTP
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 187
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 14 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2255
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:14PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N21123
NTSB Number NYC97LA075
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 7916027
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 19 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 7677
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PRO FLIGHT CENTER INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1 PIPER STREET
Aircraft Owner City BEAVER FALLS
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 15010
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 3G9
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2580
Runway Width 38
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --