Selinsgrove Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania 17870
Friday, August 28, 1987 18:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT IN AN OVERWEIGHT AIRCRAFT IN CONDITIONS OF LOW CEILINGS AND FOG. AFTER A TOUCH AND GO LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STALLED DURING THE TAKEOFF THEN COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY PRE-EXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/28/1987
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SELINSGROVE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17870
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SELINSGROVE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SEG
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 444
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1800 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID IPT
Elevation of weather observation facility 529
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 600
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) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
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) 29
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 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2638
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 28 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38254
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:44PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4003P
NTSB Number NYC87FA241
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-23-160
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-160
Aircraft Serial Number 23-1478
Certified Max Gross Weight 3500
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 17 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 3960
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PENN VALLEY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Aircraft Owner Street Address AIRPORT ROAD, RD 4
Aircraft Owner City SELINGSGROVE
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17870
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KARL KOVACS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 140 E. SPRUSE ST. APT. A
Operator City SELINSGROVE
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 17870
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SEG
Departure City SELINSGROVE
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 600
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 35
Runway Length 3900
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --