Piper PA-28-161 accident near Butler, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1997
On April 15, 1997 at about 2:45 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N21123, was substantially damaged in an accident near Butler, Pennsylvania (Butler Farm Show airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed on final approach; his failure to attain the proper touchdown point; and his failure to perform a go-around, while there was still sufficient airspeed and runway remaining, which resulted in an overrun and subsequent damage to the airplane. Darkness was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1997 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Butler, Pennsylvania · Butler Farm Show · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N21123 · registry record · serial 7916027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed a 2,580 foot asphalt runway with a displaced threshold of 180 feet for a local flight. When he returned, he entered the left downwind for a night landing on runway 18. On final approach, he observed that the airplane was too high, and he performed a go-around. During the second landing attempt, the pilot reported that the airplane touched down in the vicinity of the approach end of the runway. The pilot stated that he applied brakes and that the brakes 'locked up.' The airplane overran the end of the runway, went across grass, and came to rest on a road. A student-pilot passenger aboard the airplane stated that on the second approach, the pilot was high, and the airplane continued to float while flaring, 'experiencing ground effect.' Examination of the airplane brake system did not disclose evidence of a mechanical malfunction.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 359 hours in all; 173 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 208 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,677 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 1997; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3G9 at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,580 ft by 38 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:23 am from BTP, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.