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Accidents · NTSB NYC84LA255 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-22-135 accident near Canton, Pennsylvania, July 26, 1984

On July 26, 1984 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-135, registered N3777A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Canton, Pennsylvania (Larry'S airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
July 26, 1984 · about 3:00 pm local time
Place
Canton, Pennsylvania · Larry'S · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-22-135 · all PA-22-135s 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 PILOT PERFORMED A RUNUP PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. HE USED ONE NOTCH OF FLAPS AND APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET OF RUNWAY TO BREAK GROUND. DURING THE CLIMBOUT AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FT THE ENGINE 'STARTED SKIPPING THEN QUIT.' THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE POWER BEFORE A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD. EXAMINATION OF ACFT REVEALED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SET ON THE RIGHT TANK. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS FOUND TO BE EMPTY, THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS APPROXIMATELY HALF FULL. THE CARBURETOR BOWL WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE EMPTY.

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: 246 hours in all; 246 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: unk

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,950 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1983; 152 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320-C1A (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: Canton PA
  • Flight plan: VFR
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: at 90 knots, gusting 10
  • Visibility: 50 statute miles
  • Sky: not recorded; scat at 8,500 ft
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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

1983-05-23NYC83LA124 · accident near Olean, NY · substantial damage · no injuries

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.