Cessna 414 accident near Butler, Pennsylvania, June 17, 2005
On June 17, 2005 at about 8:59 pm local time, a Cessna 414, registered N1654T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Butler, Pennsylvania (Butler County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to conduct the flight with a known equipment deficiency. A factor was the tailwind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2005 · about 8:59 pm local time
- Place
- Butler, Pennsylvania · Butler County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414 · all 414s on the register
- Registration
- N1654T · no longer on the register · serial 414-0434
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot conducted a landing to a 3,598-foot runway with a quartering tailwind. During the landing roll the pilot applied increasing levels of braking pressure; however, the desired braking action was not achieved. The airplane subsequently overran the runway and impacted a fence, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot later stated that the landing was conducted without wing flaps because they were inoperative, and had been for several flights prior to the accident flight. The pilot also stated that another individual on a prior flight had advised him that the brakes felt "spongy." Following the accident, brake system pressure was measured at the brake bleeder ports for both the left and right brakes. After pumping the brakes, maximum pressures of 150 psi for the left system, and 50 psi for the right system were noted.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,233 hours in all; 369 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,054 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2005; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,350 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: GMU Greenville SC at 6:30 pm
- Destination: BTP Butler PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 8, 3,998 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from BTP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.