Piper PA-28-161 N21123

Summary

On 15 April 1997 at about 02:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N21123 was involved in an accident near Butler, Pennsylvania, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 April 1997 at 02:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Butler, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Butler Farm Show (3G9)

Coordinates

40.7593, -80.3208

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161

Registration

N21123

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC97LA075

Nobody was injured.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.