Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marshburg, Pennsylvania
Tuesady, November 1, 1983 19:20 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER REFUELING AT ITHACA, NY, THE PLTS OF TWO PIPER PA-28 ACFT DEPARTED AS A FLT OF TWO. THEY HAD PLANNED TO CONTINUE THEIR FLT BACK TO CINCINNATI, OH WITH ANOTHER EN ROUTE STOP AT COLUMBUS, OH. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT OF N8163P WAS FOLLOWING THE LEAD ACFT, N6888W. AFTER CHECKING THE WX & OBSERVING LIGHTNING AHEAD, THE FLT LEADER RADIOED THAT HE WAS TURNING BACK TO BRADFORE, PA TO LAND. AT THIS TIME (1915 EST) IT WAS DARK & THE ACFT WERE AT ABOUT 3000 TO 3300 FT MSL. THE #2 PLT TRIED TO KEEP THE LEAD ACFT IN SIGHT, DURING THE TURN, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE LEAD PLANE, THE #2 PLT BECAME DISORIENTED & LOST CONTROL OF HIS ACFT. DURING THE ATTEMPTED RECOVERY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON THE CREST OF A HILL AT APRX 2240 FT MSL. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED, BUT THE 2 OCCUPANTS OF THAT ACFT RECEIVED ONLY MINOR INJURIES. THEY SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE FOREST.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/1/1983
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1920
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MARSHBURG
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BFD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 10
Degrees magnetic from airport 315
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1950 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 125
Weather Observation Facility ID BFD
Elevation of weather observation facility 2143
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 4500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1800
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1813
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22083
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8163P
NTSB Number NYC84FGM01
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 28801627
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Sep 2 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 68
Airframe Hours 1593
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PIPER 161 INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10004 WEST ROAD
Aircraft Owner City HARRISON
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45030
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 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 ITH
Departure City ITECAH
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CMH
Destination City COLUMBUS
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --