Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Huntingdon, Pennsylvania 16652
Sunday, July 12, 1987 20:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE AT CRUISE ALTITUDE. THE PILOT DECIDED NOT TO CONTINUE FLIGHT AND LANDED ON A FOOTBALL FIELD. DURING ROLL OUT, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR FELL INTO A DRAIN HOLE TO THE SIDE OF THE FIELD CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO TURN RIGHT ABOUT 45 DEGREES. THE PLANE CONTINUED TO ROLL AND COLLIDED WITH THE BLEACHERS. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING DURING WHICH HE WAS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS. THE PILOT CONTINUED UNTIL A 180 DEGREE TURN WAS NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO REMOVE HIM FROM DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACC REPORT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/12/1987
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2020
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City HUNTINGDON
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 16652
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 7
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2040 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID A00
Elevation of weather observation facility 1504
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 18000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
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 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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2502
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 12 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2242
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36801
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:37PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N33576
NTSB Number NYC87LA201
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model J3C-65
Aircraft Series Identifier J3C-65
Aircraft Serial Number 14053
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WES KYLE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 919 BLACK STREET
Aircraft Owner City UVALD
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78801
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RHETT A. GROTZINGER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 160355
Operator City SAN ANTONIO
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 78280
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
Departure City LATROBE
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LHV
Destination City LOCK HAVEN
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --