Cessna 152 accident near Butler, Pennsylvania, August 29, 1983
On August 29, 1983 at about 4:30 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4793Q, was destroyed in an accident near Butler, Pennsylvania (Butler County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1983 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- Butler, Pennsylvania · Butler County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4793Q · no longer on the register · serial 15285064
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED ON APPROACH TO THE FINAL DESTINATION ARPT AFTER COMPLETION OF A MULTI-LEGGED X-CTRY FLT IN FOGGY WEATHER. THE FLT HAD 5 ENROUTE STOPS WHICH ENTAILED 6 TAKEOFFS AND CLIMBS DURING 3.6 HOURS. ACCORDING TO THE FAA THE ACFT CONTAINED 5 OR 6 GALLONS OF FUEL AFTER THE CRASH WITH EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE FUEL STRAINER AND LINES. PITTSBURG TOWER WAS WORKING THE FLT JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND HAD GUIDED IT TO APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES WHEN RADIO COMMUNICATIONS STOPPED. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AND ENGINE FAILED TO REVEAL ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 463 hours in all; 271 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 352 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 136 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 1983; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9G1 Tarentum PA at 3:15 am
- Destination: 8G7 Zelienople PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.