Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Erie, Pennsylvania 16505
Friday, July 19, 1985 3:43 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A NORMAL IFR CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PILOT OF AIR OHIO FLIGHT 21, DID NOT RESPOND TO ATC INSTRUCTIONS. AIR OHIO FLIGHT 21 CONTINUED FOR 40 MINUTES WITH NO REPLY AND WITHOUT DEVIATION IN ALTITUDE OR HEADING UNTIL THE DISCRETE TARGET DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR OVER LAKE ERIE. THE PILOT HAD NOT SLEPT FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 HOURS PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF COMMUNICATION RESPONSE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/19/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 343
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ERIE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 16505
Event Date Year 1985
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 Unknown
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 550 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 175
Weather Observation Facility ID ERI
Elevation of weather observation facility 732
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 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) 1600
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 19 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28977
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N71MA
NTSB Number NYC85FA189
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 Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Smith, Ted Aerostar
Aircraft Model AEROSTAR 601
Aircraft Series Identifier AEROSTAR 6
Aircraft Serial Number 61-0217-094
Certified Max Gross Weight 5700
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 --
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 23 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 73
Airframe Hours 2475
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN L. DELASSUS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 32569 SURREY LANE
Aircraft Owner City AVON LAKE
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44012
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DON EVANS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 801 STANDARD BUILDING
Operator City CLEVELAND
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 44113
Operator Code 6GL6
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 SDF
Departure City LOUISVILLE
Departure State KY
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BFT
Destination City CLEVELAND
Destination State OH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --