# Accident 19990625007739A: Boeing PT17, Lock Haven, PA, June 25, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 25, 1999, 10:00 local time
- Place: Lock Haven, PA
- Airport: William T Piper Memorial Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.1291° N, 77.4495° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1291&lon=-77.4495&mi=10
- Aircraft: N61467, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61467) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing A75N1(PT17) (registry code 1380134, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental W670 series (registry code 17018, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING PT17
- Reported engine: CONT W670K
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD99LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD99LA050) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990625007739A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT STRUCK A TELEPHONE LINE WHILE FLYING OVER A RIVER, AND THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE RIVER AND WAS DESTROYED, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (-23) ON FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1999, AT 100 HOURS LOCAL TIME, A BOEING B-A75-N1, N61467, OWNED AND OPERATED BY MR. TIM R. BRONSON OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, WAS FLYING DOWN THE RIVER 10 MILES NORTH OF LOCK HAVEN, PENNSYLVANIA WHEN HE STRUCK SOME WIRES, CAUGHT FIRE, AND CRASHED INTO THE RIVER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR FLIGHT OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR 91.  (.4) THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, ABOVE A RIVER, THE AIRPLANE 'APPARENTLY STRUCK AN UNSEEN OBJECT AND DEPARTED CONTROLLED FLIGHT.'  HE THOUGHT THE OBJECT WAS AN UNMARKED CABLE THAT RAN ACROSS THE RIVER.  HE HAD NOTICED THESE CABLES ON PREVIOUS FLIGHTS BECAUSE THEY WERE USUALLY MARKED WITH ORANGE BALLS.  THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES THAT MAY HAVE LED TO THE ACCIDENT. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT PITCH UP, ROLL HARD TO THE LEFT, IMPACT THE GROUND 'STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN', AND CATCH FIRE.  AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THERE WERE TELEPHONE  WIRES 50-150 FEET HIGH ACROSS THE RIVER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD99LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD99LA050), Jun 25, 1999: Boeing Stearman PT17 (N61467), Lock Haven, PA, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's improper inflight decision to fly at an inadequate altitude and his improper visual lookout which resulted in a collision with wires.

## Other reports on N61467 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19940228012119I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940228012119I), Feb 28, 1994: Boeing A75N1 (N61467), Naples, FL, Minor damage. Pilot struck a parked aircraft while taxiing to ramp. Had poor visibility.
- [Incident 19930627024059I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930627024059I), Jun 27, 1993: Boeing A75N1 (N61467), Leesport, PA. Pilot had fuel exhaustion. Forced landing. Found bug carcasses in fuel pipe, faulty external fuel gauge.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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