Piper PA-20 accident near Beaver Falls, PA
On April 12, 1998, a Piper PA-20 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Beaver Falls, PA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 12, 1998
- Place
- Beaver Falls, PA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.761°N, 80.320°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X09876
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 12, 1998, approximately 1850 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-20, N2336A, was destroyed when it collided with terrain during take off from the Beaver County Airport (BVI), Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot/owner and front seat passenger received fatal injuries; two rear seated passengers received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot/owner purchased the tail wheel airplane on April 10, 1998, flew locally with the previous owner for 1.5 hours, and then ferried the airplane, solo, to BVI; a 1.6 hour flight. Beaver County Airport tower personnel stated that the pilot aborted his first landing attempt, and witnesses to the second landing commented that "the landing really attracted their attention." A Fixed Base Operator reported that the airplane was filled with fuel on April 11, 1998, and tower personnel could not recall the airplane flying that day. According to a passenger on the flight, on April 12, 1998, the pilot walked around the airplane several times checking "various things," before he took off. The passenger, the pilot, and their two children boarded the airplane. While they taxied to the runway, the passenger observed the windsock indicating no wind. During the takeoff, everything "seemed OK" and just after the airplane lifted off the ground, the passenger heard a "pop." She stated the "pop" was a "low" sound, similar to the pop of a "champagne cork." The noise appeared to startle the pilot, and he l
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, and his failure to attain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall. Contributing was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane, and his misjudgment of wind information which resulted in a tailwind during takeoff.
More accidents in PA
- Boeing B-737-300, Sep 8, 1994
- Boeing 757, Sep 11, 2001
- British Aerospace J-3101, May 21, 2000
- Bell UH-1N, May 29, 2008
- Beech A36, Jul 30, 1989
Browse: Pennsylvania · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
