Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Bedford County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Bedford, Pennsylvania 15522
Thursday, August 19, 2010 6:40 EDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The pilot stated that he departed on an instrument flight and estimated that the visibility was over one-half mile. During the initial climb, about 1 to 2 miles from the runway, the airplane collided with trees while in instrumental meteorological conditions (IMC). The airplane continued to climb and shortly thereafter, departed IMC. The pilot noted the damage to both wings’ leading edges and observed fuel leaking. He advised air traffic control of his situation and declared an emergency. During the approach to a nearby airport, he attempted to lower the landing gear and received an unsafe nose gear indication which would not extend. The pilot landed on the main landing gear and delayed lowering the nose for as long as possible, until the propeller came in contact with the surface. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed damage to the empennage in addition to the damage incurred during the collision with trees.
A witness at the departing airport stated that ground visibility was poor during the time of the accident. The closest weather observation, located about 16 miles from the airport, recorded calm wind, visibility at ¾ status miles, 100 feet vertical visibility, and fog near the time of departure. The published takeoff minimums and (obstacle) departure procedures for the departing airport stated the minimum climb gradient was 300 feet per nautical mile. The pilot reported no discrepancies with the airplane prior to the accident flight.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's failure to establish a proper climb gradient during a departure in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 8/19/2010 |
| Event Day of the Week | Thursday |
| Time of Event | 640 |
| Event Time Zone | Eastern Daylight Time |
| Event City | Bedford |
| Event State | PENNSYLVANIA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 15522 |
| Event Date Year | 2010 |
| Event Date Month | 8 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 400510N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0783048W |
| Event Location Airport | Bedford County |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | HMZ |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 1162 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 634 Eastern Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 35 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | AOO |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 1503 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 16 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | EDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Dawn |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 100 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Partial Obscuration |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Obscured |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | 1 |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 1 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 13 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 12 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | -- |
| Variable Wind Indicator | -- |
| Wind Speed (knots) | -- |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | Calm |
| Wind Gust Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | -- |
| 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) | 28013 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA Eastern ROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | May 11 2011 10:03AM |
| User who most recently changed record | johb |
| Basic weather conditions | Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N77RL |
| NTSB Number | ERA10CA436 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | IFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | Yes |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | CESSNA |
| Aircraft Model | 414 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | A |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 414A0211 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 6350 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 7 |
| Number of Engines | 2 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Retractable |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Jun 3 2010 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 6255 |
| Airframe Hours | 6255 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | C91-A |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Fort Bedford Air LLC |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | Bedford |
| Aircraft Owner State | PA |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 15522 |
| Operator is an individual? | Yes |
| Operator Name | Mark W. Thomas |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | Bedford |
| Operator State | PA |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 15522 |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| 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) | Personal |
| Second Pilot on Board | Yes |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | HMZ |
| Departure City | Bedford |
| Departure State | PA |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 630 |
| Departure Time Zone | EDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | EYE |
| Destination City | Indianpolis |
| Destination State | IN |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Dec 5 2010 2:50PM |
| User who most recently changed record | coxp |
| Since inspection or accident | Last Inspection |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 32 |
| Runway Length | 5005 |
| Runway Width | 75 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |