Wellsville Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wellsville, New York 14895
Wednesday, November 13, 1985 18:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER DEPARTURE THE PLT MADE 3 PRACTICE ISL APCHS AT BRADFORD REGIONAL ARPT LOCATED 35 MLS AWAY. THE ACFT RETURNED TO WELLSVILLE AND WAS CLEARED FOR RWY LOCALIZER APCH. THE PLT RADIOED WELLSVILLE UNICOM FOR ADVISORIES AND WAS INFORMED THAT A FOG BANK WAS OVER THE APCH END OF RWY 28 WITH A 1/4 MI VISIBILITY. THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED AND ABOUT 5 MINS LATER A ELT SIGNAL WAS RECEIVED AT THE ARPT. ANOTHER PLT MADE THE APCH ABOUT 30 MINS LATER. ACCORDING TO THE PLT DURING THE APCH HE COULD SEE DIRECTLY BELOW BUT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ARPT. HE MADE A MISSED APCH AND LATER LANDED AFTER A 2ND APCH. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 1/4 MI FROM THE APCH END OF RWY 28. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PILOTS' PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OR INCAPACITATION. FLIGHT TEST DETERMINED SATISFACTORY OPERATION OF THE LOC NAVAIDS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/13/1985
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WELLSVILLE
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14895
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WELLSVILLE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ELZ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1855 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 65
Weather Observation Facility ID BFD
Elevation of weather observation facility 2143
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 2354
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 13 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2010
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29711
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1400H
NTSB Number NYC86FA034
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 28-771602
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
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 4
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 16 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 2102
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WELLSVILLE FLYING SERVICE, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 641
Aircraft Owner City WELLSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14895
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 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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ELZ
Departure City WELLSVILLE
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EST
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 Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --