University Park Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Unionville, Pennsylvania 16823
Monday, February 24, 1992 20:08 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A VOR-B APPROACH THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN 2.5 MI FROM THE AIRPORT, AT 1,785 FT MSL. THE CRASH SITE WAS IN LINE WITH THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE, AT A POINT ON THE APPROACH PROFILE WHERE THE MINIMUM ALTITUDE IS 2,520 FT. THE AIRPLANE WAS LAST REFUELED ON 2/18; ESTIMATED FLYING TIME SINCE THEN WAS 5.5 HRS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT DID NOT FOLLOW THE PUBLISHED IFR PROCEDURES AND ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DESCEND TO AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S APPREHENSION DUE TO THE LOW FUEL STATE, THE DARK NIGHT, ADVERSE WEATHER, AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/24/1992
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2008
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City UNIONVILLE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 16823
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport UNIVERSITY PARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID UNV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 130
Airport Elevation 1239
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2040 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 131
Weather Observation Facility ID UNV
Elevation of weather observation facility 1239
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 567
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 24 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47965
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6928L
NTSB Number NYC92FA067
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 310K
Aircraft Series Identifier 310K
Aircraft Serial Number 310K-0028
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Feb 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 5877
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CENTRE AIRLINE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 245
Aircraft Owner City REEDSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17084
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CENTRE AIRLINE INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address BOX 245
Operator City REEDSVILLE
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 17084
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code JST
Departure City JOHNSTOWN
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1939
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code UNV
Destination City STATE COLLEGE
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 6
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --