# Accident 20031223034099A: Piper PA44180, Butler, PA, December 23, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 23, 2003, 11:00 local time
- Place: Butler, PA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Practice Training Manuevers
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: SKNA
- Location: 40.8978° N, 80.0792° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8978&lon=-80.0792&mi=10
- Aircraft: N432PA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N432PA-2015-05-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-44-180 (registry code 7104402, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-360-A1D (registry code 41504, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA44180
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 880 total, 31 in this make and model, 136 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD04LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04LA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031223034099A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON DECEMBER 23, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, N432PA, A PIPER PA-44-180 SEMINOLE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN MUDDY CREEK TOWNSHIP, BUTLER COUNTY, PA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FLIGHT HAD COMMENCED FROM BEAVER COUNTY AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 10:37 EST AND WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AS A LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. A CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT (MULTI-ENGINE STUDENT) OCCUPIED THE LEFT SEAT AND A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR OCCUPIED THE RIGHT SEAT. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTORS THAT DURING THE FLIGHT HE HAD PLANNED TO DEMONSTRATE SINGLE ENGINE MANEUVERS, WHICH INCLUDED AN ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND RESTART. AFTER PERFORMING A SHUTDOWN OF THE RIGHT HAND ENGINE, THE STUDENT PILOT ANDSUBSEQUENTLY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN RESTARTING THE ENGINE. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE INTENDED AIRPORT, AND INFORMED THE STUDENT PILOT THAT HE WAS GOING TO LAND IN A FARM FIELD BELOW THEM. DURING APPROACH TO THE FIELD, THE FLIGHTINSTRUCTOR LOWERED THE FLAPS TO 25 DEGREES AND EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH TREES ON SHORT FINAL TO THE FIELD, AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR COULD NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING MORE UNTIL REGAINING CONSCIOUSNESS AFTER THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST UPRIGHT IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE JUST BEYOND A WOODED AREA IN A SMALL CLEARING AT THE EDGE OF THE FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN NEAR THE BOTTOM A A 40-FOOT HILL, ON A 30-DEGREE SLOPE. ELEVATION IN THE GENERAL AREA WAS 1,000 TO 1,200 FEET. THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD04LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04LA005), Dec 23, 2003: Piper PA-44 (N432PA), Prospect, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's improper in-flight decision, which included an inappropriate altitude selection for intentional single engine operation. Factors were the inability of the flight instructor to…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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