Cattaraugus County-Olean Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Olean, New York 14760
Thursday, May 9, 1996 9:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was conducting an ILS localizer approach to runway 22 at Olean. The hourly weather observation at the time of the accident was indefinite ceiling zero and zero visibility with light rain and fog. During the approach, the airplane collided with trees approximately 600 feet to the left of the runway. According to 14 CFR Part 91.175, no pilot may descend below the authorized minimum descent altitude (MDA) unless the flight visibility is not less than the visibility prescribed in the standard instrument approach being used. The ILS runway 22 localizer approach at Olean required a visibility of 1 mile.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper IFR procedure by not maintaining the minimum descent altitude (MDA) during the ILS localizer approach. Factors relating to the accident were: low ceiling, fog, and weather below minimums for landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/9/1996
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 910
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City OLEAN
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14760
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CATTARAUGUS COUNTY-OLEAN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OLE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2135
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 845 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID OLE
Elevation of weather observation facility 2135
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 5
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 5
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 911
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 9 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:01AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N65792
NTSB Number NYC96LA102
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model A36
Aircraft Series Identifier A36
Aircraft Serial Number E-2066
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 7 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 1410
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JALA LEASING CORP
Aircraft Owner Street Address 330 PASSAIC AVE
Aircraft Owner City FAIRFIELD
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07006
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PAUL P. CUTTING
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO BOX 1147
Operator City MORRISVILLE
Operator State VT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 05661
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 4B6
Departure City TICONDEROGA
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code OLE
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 4699
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --