Piper PA-28-181 accident near Bally, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1998
On April 29, 1998 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N4506Z, was destroyed in an accident near Bally, Pennsylvania (Butter Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll; and/or his failure to abort the takeoff, while there was sufficient space available to do so without hitting trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 1998 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bally, Pennsylvania · Butter Valley
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N4506Z · no longer on the register · serial 28-8090029
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to perform a short field takeoff. He set the trailing edge wing flaps at 25 degrees, and initiated the takeoff roll. He rotated at 50 knots, and when the airplane did not become airborne, he relaxed his right rudder, but did not reduce engine power. The airplane then departed the runway on the left side and struck trees. Later, the pilot stated that he should have maintained directional control by holding right rudder, closed the throttle, and used the brakes to stop the airplane.
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: 141 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 63 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,808 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 19, 1998; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7N8 at 4:30 pm
- Destination: N67 Blue Bell PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,420 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from ABE, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.