Piper PA-38-112 accident near Butler, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1991
On August 12, 1991 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2507B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Butler, Pennsylvania (Butler County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE DEPARTING THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED WITH THE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1991 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Butler, Pennsylvania · Butler County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2507B · no longer on the register · serial 38-7970096
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKE OFF ROLL FROM A TOUCH AND GO LANDING THE AIR PLANE STARTED TO DRIFTED LEFT. THE CFI INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT TO APPLY RIGHT RUDDER, BUT THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT LEFT. THE RUNWAY IN USE AT THE TIME WAS 08 AND ACCORDING TO THE CFI THE WINDS WERE 360 AT 10 KNOTS. THE CFI THEN APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER, HOWEVER THE AIRPLANE PIVOTED ONTO THE GRASS. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER IN THE GRASS AND CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. THE FAA EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND FOUND NO DISCREPANCIES.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,039 hours in all; 374 in this make and model; 94 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 951 as pilot in command; 635 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Beaver Aviation Service INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.