Piper PA-34-200 accident near Easton, Pennsylvania, September 10, 1991
On September 10, 1991 at about 4:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200, registered N55145, was substantially damaged in an accident near Easton, Pennsylvania (Easton airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN OVERRUN AFTER THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND LANDED LONG ON A SHORT, WET RUNWAY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAKE A GO-AROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1991 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Easton, Pennsylvania · Easton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200 · all PA-34-200s on the register
- Registration
- N55145 · no longer on the register · serial 34-7350178
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SINGLE ENGINE CFI WAS RECEIVING DUAL INSTRUCTION TO BE UPGRADED TO A MULTI ENGINE CFI. THE PILOT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH RUNWAY ALIGNMENT AND HANDLING THE CROSSWIND AND TURNED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE OVER TO THE PIC. THE PIC CONTINUED THE APPROACH AND LANDING. THE RUNWAY SURFACE WAS WET FROM RAIN AND THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE RUNWAY AND WENT INTO A PLOWED FIELD. THE PIC SAID HE LANDED IN THE FIRST 1/3. A WITNESS SAID THE LANDING WAS 2/3 TO 3/4 DOWN THE RUNWAY WHICH IS 1953 FEET LONG. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH BRAKE PEDALS ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE FAA SAID THEY DID NOT NOTICE ANY SKID MARKS IN THE GRASS. THE PIC SAID HE BRAKED THE AIRPLANE USING THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER LOCATED ON THE LOWER INSTRUMENT PANEL BETWEEN THE TWO PILOT SEATS.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,855 hours in all; 211 in this make and model; 242 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 1,676 as pilot in command; 999 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABE Allentown PA at 2:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,953 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.