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19971128035809A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Cessna 310R · St Marys, PA · November 28, 1997

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
November 28, 1997 · 18:10 local
Place
St Marys, PA
Airport
St Marys Municipal Airport
Phase of flight
Final Approach
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator
UGBA
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N6923
NTSB investigation
NTSBNYC98FA035
Reported as
Cessna 310R
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
2
Pilot’s flight hours
11,000 total102 in the last 90 days
N6923Registration cancelled Feb 6, 2003 · Cessna 310RS/N 310R0220 · Built 1975Airframe modelCessna 310REngine modelContinental IO-520 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Acft was cleard for an ILS app to arpt, when it descended into terrain east of arpt, 2SUFFERED fatal, stmarys,PA. (.4)the pilot initiated consecutive localizer/dme approaches to the uncontrolled airport after receiving weather information from the AWOS, which was published out of service and broadcasting in the 'test' mode. Radar data revealed that during both approaches the airplane descended below the mda for each segment of the approach flown. During the first approach, approximately 10 DME, the airplane was depicted 1,400 feet below the published mda for that segment and 260 feet below the lowest mda for the approach. Approximately 8 miles from the airport the pilot advised he was unable to activate the runway lights and received vectors for a second approach. During the second approach, the airplane impacted trees and terrain on a ridge line approximately 500 feet below the mda for that segment of the approach. Weather was reported to be variable ceiling 100 feet and 1/4 mile visibility, with light drizzle and fog. In the remarks section of the approach plate for the loc/dme approach it stated: 'obtain local altimeter on ctaf/awos, when not available, procedure not authorized.'

As the FAA filed it

ACFT WAS CLEARD FOR AN ILS APP TO ARPT, WHEN IT DESCENDED INTO TERRAIN EAST OF ARPT, 2SUFFERED FATAL, STMARYS,PA. (.4)THE PILOT INITIATED CONSECUTIVE LOCALIZER/DME APPROACHES TO THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT AFTER RECEIVING WEATHER INFORMATION FROM THE AWOS, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED OUT OF SERVICE AND BROADCASTING IN THE 'TEST' MODE. RADAR DATA REVEALED THAT DURING BOTH APPROACHES THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED BELOW THE MDA FOR EACH SEGMENT OF THE APPROACH FLOWN. DURING THE FIRST APPROACH, APPROXIMATELY 10 DME, THE AIRPLANE WAS DEPICTED 1,400 FEET BELOW THE PUBLISHED MDA FOR THAT SEGMENT AND 260 FEET BELOW THE LOWEST MDA FOR THE APPROACH. APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT THE PILOT ADVISED HE WAS UNABLE TO ACTIVATE THE RUNWAY LIGHTS AND RECEIVED VECTORS FOR A SECOND APPROACH. DURING THE SECOND APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES AND TERRAIN ON A RIDGE LINE APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET BELOW THE MDA FOR THAT SEGMENT OF THE APPROACH. WEATHER WAS REPORTED TO BE VARIABLE CEILING 100 FEET AND 1/4 MILE VISIBILITY, WITH LIGHT DRIZZLE AND FOG. IN THE REMARKS SECTION OF THE APPROACH PLATE FOR THE LOC/DME APPROACH IT STATED: 'OBTAIN LOCAL ALTIMETER ON CTAF/AWOS, WHEN NOT AVAILABLE, PROCEDURE NOT AUTHORIZED.'

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC98FA035Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportSt Mary'S, PAwas the pilot's descent below the minimum descent altitude and his failure to comply with published procedures.Nov 28, 1997 · Destroyed