Piper PA-28-140 accident near Bally, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1986
On June 23, 1986 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5592U, was destroyed in an accident near Bally, Pennsylvania (Butler Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- June 23, 1986 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Bally, Pennsylvania · Butler Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5592U · no longer on the register · serial 28-26322
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED ON RUWNAY 34 IN WINDS HE ESTIMATED TO BE FROM 270 DEGREES AT 10-15 KNOTS. HE STATED THAT AT TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT WING WAS CAUGHT BY A GUST AND RAISED. THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED RIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THERE WAS SUFFICENT RUNWAY TO CONTINUE THE LANDING ROLL; HOWEVER, HE NOTICED PEOPLE AHEAD THAT WERE APPROACHING THE RUNWAY FROM THE RIGHT. BY THE TIME THE PILOT HAD CORRECTED THE LEFT WING HIGH CONDITION, THE AIRCRAFT HAD DRIFTED FURTHER RIGHT WITH THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEEL OFF THE RUNWAY. AS A GO-AROUND WAS INITIATED, THE PILOT TURNED FURTHER RIGHT TO AVOID THE PERSONNEL. DUE TO RISING TERRAIN, HE WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR A TREELINE. WHEN A COLLISION WITH TREES BECAME OBVIOUS, THE PILOT REDUCED POWER. THE FUSELAGE OF THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED THROUGH THE TREES, BUT THE WINGS WERE SHEARED OFF.
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: 157 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 92 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,474 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 24, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Pocono PA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: 7N8
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.