Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Doylesburg, Pennsylvania 17219
Tuesady, October 8, 1996 19:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Before departure, the pilot was advised by Flight Service Station personnel that VFR flight was not recommended due to low clouds across the mountain ridges along the route of flight. The pilot then elected to depart on a night, VFR, cross-country flight. The airplane was reported missing, and it was located in mountainous terrain along the intended route. The crash site was near the top of a 2,100 foot mountain, at an elevation of about 2,000 feet msl. Cloud layers were reported between 1,500 and 2,500 feet msl at surrounding airports. Witnesses reported that the weather was rainy and foggy at the accident site. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of a preimpact malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

continued VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain altitude and/or clearance from high terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, low ceiling, fog, and high (mountainous) terrain along the route.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/8/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DOYLESBURG
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17219
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
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 1950 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID AOO
Elevation of weather observation facility 1504
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
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) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1739
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 10 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1515
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:25AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2154L
NTSB Number NYC97FA004
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model F33A
Aircraft Series Identifier F33A
Aircraft Serial Number CE-663
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 5 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 218
Airframe Hours 3578
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHARLES C. MCGEE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1311 N NORMA ST.
Aircraft Owner City RIDGECREST
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93555
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 AGC
Departure City PITTSBURGH
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1835
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AOO
Destination City ALTOONA
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
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 --