Allegheny County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15122
Tuesady, October 12, 2004 18:27 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

About 10 feet above the runway, the airplane began a slow roll to the right. The student attempted to correct the roll and then transferred control of the airplane to the flight instructor. The flight instructor decreased the airplane's pitch angle to maintain airspeed. The airplane descended, while the flight instructor held full left aileron and left rudder to return to level flight. The airplane touched down about 50 yards to the right of the runway, at an angle about 30 degrees to the right of it. The flight instructor reduced engine power to idle and attempted to steer the airplane back toward the runway, but the right wing strut struck an electric fence post, and the airplane turned right, then impacted several trees. Examination of the airplane revealed that the aileron cables were intact, and control continuity was confirmed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The delayed remedial action by the flight instructor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/12/2004
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1827
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Pittsburgh
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 15122
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 402115N
Event Location Longitude 0795548W
Event Location Airport Allegheny County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AGC
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 1252
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID AGC
Elevation of weather observation facility 1252
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 30000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.92
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17179
NTSB Notification Source FAA Allegheny FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Oct 13 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 27 2005 3:52PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Allegheny FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N81DC
NTSB Number IAD05LA003
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aero Commander
Aircraft Model 100
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 124
Certified Max Gross Weight 2250
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 22 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 3113.3
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Neil Thompson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Warner Robins
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Allegheny Flying Club
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City West Mifflin
Operator State PA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code AGC
Departure City Pittsburgh
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1827
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 6501
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --