Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Starrucca, Pennsylvania
Sunday, December 12, 1982 17:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A WEATHER BRIEFING BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ADVISED OF ICING CONDITIONS, TURBULENCE, SNOWSHOWERS AND SNOW SQUALLS ALONG RIDGES NORTH OF THE WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON, PA AREA. THE WEATHER BRIEFER INDICATED THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. ALSO, AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT ADVISED THE PILOT NOT TO LEAVE SO LATE IN THE DAY. AT ABOUT 1530 EST, THE PILOT TOOK OFF. AT 1556 EST, HE CONTACTED THE BIRMINGHAM TOWER FOR ASSISTANCE AFTER HE ENCOUNTERED ADVERSE WEATHER. FOR OVER AN HOUR, TOWER PERSONNEL TRIED TO ASSIST THE STUDENT. THE PILOT'S LAST KNOWN TRANSMISSION WAS AT 1706 AFTER HE HAD REPORTED THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER HE WAS FLYING UP OR DOWN. THE PLANE IMPACTED IN A WOODED AREA AFTER DARK IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. A WITNESS, WHO HEARD THE CLEARED UP SHORTLY AFTERWARDS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/12/1982
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1710
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City STARRUCCA
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1652
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 310
Weather Observation Facility ID BGM
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 32
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 Heavy
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3057
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 Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N34595
NTSB Number NYC83FA041
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 177B
Aircraft Series Identifier 177B
Aircraft Serial Number 17701891
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 1387
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALEXIS AVIATION CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 330 W. 42 STREET
Aircraft Owner City NEW YORK
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 10036
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STELIOS ROCCOS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RD 1, BOX 93
Operator City HONESDALE
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 18431
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 No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City HONESDALE
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City SRACUSE
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --