Piper PA-22 accident near Olean, New York, May 23, 1983
On May 23, 1983 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N3777A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Olean, New York (Olean airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- May 23, 1983 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Olean, New York · Olean · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N3777A · no longer on the register · serial 22-2019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING TAXI AFTER LANDING WHEN THE ACFT WENT OFF THE RUNWAY INTO SOFT DIRT. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD COMPLETED A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTER LANDING DURING TAXI AT OLEAN, NY THE PILOT APPLIED BRAKES AND THE ACFT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT ONTO THE GRASSY AREA ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAY. THE FRONT WHEEL SANK INTO THE SOIL AND THE PROPELLER MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE ACFT NOSED OVER TO AN INVERTED POSITION. THE WINGS AND COCKPIT WERE DAMAGED.THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN AND THE FRONT GEAR BRACKET WAS BENT.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 79 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 42 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,464 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1983; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BDF Bradford PA
- Destination: OLE Olean NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 22, 4,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.
Other NTSB records under N3777A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.