Piper PA-22-108 accident near Beavertown, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1992
On July 12, 1992 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-108, registered N4754Z, was destroyed in an accident near Beavertown, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN GROUND CLEARANCE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A DOWNDRAFT AND INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1992 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Beavertown, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-108 · all PA-22-108s on the register
- Registration
- N4754Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-8310
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS NEARING HIS DESTINATION WHEN HE NOTICED THE SKY WAS DARKENING NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND HEAD BACK TO WHERE HE DEPARTED. HE SAID THAT AFTERWARDS HE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT AND HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND STRUCK THE EAST SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 307 hours in all; 149 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 246 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,353 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1991; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-CIB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PA23 Mifflintown PA at 1:30 pm
- Destination: SEG Selinsgrove PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft; scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from IPT, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.