Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Muncy Valley, Pennsylvania 17758
Saturday, June 10, 1995 12:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING CLIMB TO CRUISE, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF 2,400 FEET MSL. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A FSS WEATHER BRIEFING ABOUT 90 MINUTES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND THOUGHT THE WEATHER TO THE FLIGHT'S INTENDED DESTINATION WAS VMC. HE STATED THAT WHILE CLIMBING TO CRUISE, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED INTO FOG AND HAZE. THE PILOT DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT, AND INITIATED A CLIMB '...FOR SAFETY... .' DURING THE CLIMBING 180 DEGREE TURN, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the non-instrument rated pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain after inadvertently entering instrument meteorological conditions. The weather conditions (haze and fog) were a factor in the accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/10/1995
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MUNCY VALLEY
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17758
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1250 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID IPT
Elevation of weather observation facility 529
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 565
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 10 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1350
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Nov 26 2002 1:09PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3070U
NTSB Number BFO95LA059
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172E
Aircraft Series Identifier 172E
Aircraft Serial Number 172-50670
Certified Max Gross Weight 2302
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 26 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 4542
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CROSSWINDS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2747 GAINES ROAD
Aircraft Owner City ALBION
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14411
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code N27
Departure City TOWANDA
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1140
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code IPT
Destination City WILLIAMSPORT
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 20 2002 11:10AM
User who most recently changed record JOHB
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --