Williamsport Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Montoursville, Pennsylvania 17754
Saturday, December 24, 1983 21:53 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING TAKEOFF ROLL THE OVERHEAD COURTSEY LIGHT FLICKERED. AS THE ACFT LIFTED OFF THE RIGHT FRONT CABIN DOOR OPENED & THE LIGHT REMAINED ON. THE PLT ADVISED THE TOWER HE WOULD BE RETURNING TO LAND & ENTERED A RIGHT DOWNWIND LEG FOR RWY 27AT 500 FT AGL. THE PLT STATED THE INTERIOR OF THE ACFT BECAME VERY NOISY & COLD SO HE ELECTED TO FLY THE DOWNWIND LEG ATABOUT 500 AGL TO REDUCE THE TIME OF EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS. THE ABILITY TO SEE THE ARPT WAS REDUCED ON THE RIGHT BASE AS THE PLT HAD TO LOOK DIRECTLY INTO THE WHITE OVERHEAD COURTESY LIGHT. WHEN THE PLT WAS ABLE TO SEE THE ARPT HE WAS NOTIN A POSITION FOR A NORMAL LANDING SO HE INITIATED A LEFT TURN TO INTERCEPT THE RWY 27 FINAL APPROACH PATH. THE ACFT LOST ALTITUDE RAPIDLY & THE TOWER ISSUED TWO ALTITUDE WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE ACFT STRIKING TREES. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/24/1983
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2153
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MONTOURSVILLE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17754
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WILLIAMSPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IPT
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 90
Airport Elevation 529
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2145 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID IPT
Elevation of weather observation facility 529
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 3800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 22
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 28
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3280
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 23767
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 N66846
NTSB Number NYC84FA059
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model A36
Aircraft Series Identifier A36
Aircraft Serial Number E-1664
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 900
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEO R. LANDHUIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3400 WOODRAIL TERRACE
Aircraft Owner City COLUMBIA,
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 65201
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LEO R. LANDHUIS
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 --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 2149
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ROC
Destination City ROCHESTER
Destination State NY
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 27
Runway Length 6500
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --