Piper PA-32-260 accident near Bally, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1990
On October 27, 1990 at about 2:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3HA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bally, Pennsylvania (Butter Valley Golf Port airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND HIS FAILIURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1990 · about 2:55 pm local time
- Place
- Bally, Pennsylvania · Butter Valley Golf Port · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3HA · no longer on the register · serial 32-762
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LANDING THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AFTER TOUCHING DOWN ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. REALIZING THERE WAS A SLIGHT UPGRADE THE PILOT PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE AND LANDED ON ALL TIRES. THE AIRPLANE THEN GLIDED AND THE PILOT FELT THAT HE WAS TAXIING DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE SLOWLY DRITED TO THE LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. TWO PIECES OF THE FRONT WHEEL RIM WERE FOUND ON THE RUNWAY.
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: 97 hours in all; 19 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 50 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GED Georgetown DE at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 2,476 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 1.5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.