Piper PA-22 TRIPACER accident near Butler, Pennsylvania, August 21, 1983
On August 21, 1983 at about 1:45 am local time, a Piper PA-22 TRIPACER, registered N600A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Butler, Pennsylvania (Butler-Row airport). It was a personal 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
- August 21, 1983 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Butler, Pennsylvania · Butler-Row · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 TRIPACER PA-22 TRIP · all PA-22 TRIPACERs on the register
- Registration
- N600A · registry record · serial 22-3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT RAN OFF THE RWY INTO A 4 FT DITCH AND NOSED OVER WHILE TAXIING. THE PLT SAID THE 'BRAKES GAVE WAY' WHILE HE WASTAXIING DOWN RWY 17 AFTER LANDING. WHEN HE REALIZED THE BRAKES WERE NOT HOLDING HE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE BY THE MIXTURE CONTROL. TO AVOID GOING ONTO A HIWAY THE PLT TURNED LEFT OFF THE SIDE OF THE RWY. THE NOSE GEAR HIT A DITCH AND THE ACFTNOSED OVER. THE BRAKES WERE EXAMINED AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THEY WERE SOFT AND SPONGY WHEN APPLIED. HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKED FROM THE VENT HOLE IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DIAPHRAGM HAD SPLIT IN THE CYLINDER CAUSING LOSSOF FLUID AND BRAKING ACTION.
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: 78 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 47 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,590 ft by 38 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 15 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.
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.