Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Avoca, Pennsylvania 18709
Wednesday, March 17, 1982 18:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED ICING CONDITIONS WHILE DESCENDING FROM 5000 TO 4000 FT NEAR HIS DESTINATION. HE WAS CLEARED FOR AN IMMEDIATE ILS APPROACH. HE MAINTAINED 110 KNOTS ON FINAL APPROACH UNTIL INSIDE THE MIDDLE MARKER. AT THAT POINT, HE APPLIED ONE NOTCH OF FLAPS AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED DOWN TOWARD THE APPROACH LIGHTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE USED BOTH HANDS TO CORRECT THE SITUATION AND THE PLANE OSCILLATED DOWN TOWARD THE RUNWAY. AT ABOUT 90 KNOTS, THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED FROM ABOUT 10 TO 15 FT AND LANDED HARD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/17/1982
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1810
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City AVOCA
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 18709
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 2400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 39
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 207
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2962W
NTSB Number NYC82DA057
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28RT-201
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28RT-20
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7918239
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 1224
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TERRY SMITH DDS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 415 RIVER STREET
Aircraft Owner City FORTY FORT
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 18704
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name POCONO AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON INT'L AI
Operator City WILKES-BARRE
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 18703
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City ALBANY
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code RLD
Destination City RICHLAND
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 4
Runway Length 6450
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --