Cumberland Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cumberland, Maryland 21502
Monday, March 5, 1984 11:07 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

APPROX 16 MIN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR THE LOCALIZER DME APPROACH. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ON A HDG OF ABOUT 220 DEGREES AT APPROX 8.5 DME ON A BEARING OF 051 DEGREES FROM THE ARPT. AS INDICATED ON THE LOC/DME RWY 23 APPROACH PLATE, THE MINIMUM ALTITUDE BETWEEN THE OUTER MARKER, 6.6 DME, AND 10 DME WAS 3000 FEET. ELEVATION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS 2000 FT; ARPT ELEVATION WAS 776 FT. POST CRASH FIRE CONSUMED MOST OF THE WRECKAGE BUT THE CABIN HEATER WAS NOT IN THE FIRE AREA. THE PILOT'S REPORTED CARBOXY HEMOGLOBIN (CO) WAS 20%. AUTOPSY REVEALED MULTIPLE EXTREME IMPACT INJURIES. PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION WERE FOUND ON FRESH AIR SIDE OF CABIN HEATER/HEAT EXCHANGER. SOURCE OF COMBUSTION PRODUCTS WERE NOT DETERMINED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/5/1984
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1107
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City CUMBERLAND
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21502
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CUMBERLAND
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CBE
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 776
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1100 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CBE
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 500
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) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1828
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 25707
Date of most recent change to record Dec 14 2000 2:06PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6629L
NTSB Number NYC84MA102
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 Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31
Aircraft Serial Number 31-565
Certified Max Gross Weight 6500
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 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jan 31 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 22
Airframe Hours 7361
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NICHOLSON AIR SERVICE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 1611
Aircraft Owner City CUMBERLAND
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21502
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CUMBERLAND AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BWI
Departure City BALTIMORE
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CBE
Destination City CUMBERLAND
Destination State MD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 23
Runway Length 5050
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --