19991212036899A

(.19) On December 12, 1999, about 1635 eastern standard time, an Israel aircraft industries 1124A, N50PL, was destroyed after impacting terrain near gouldsboro, Pennsylvania. The two certificated airline transport pilots and a passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. According to the federal aviation administration, the flight departed from the Boeing field/king county international airport (bfi), seattle, Washington, and proceeded eastbound, destined for the Teterboro Airport (teb), Teterboro, new jersey. As the airplane began it's decent to teb, it was instructed to cross the wilkes-barre VOR at 18,000 feet, which the flight crew acknowledged. The flight was then instructed to cross the mugzy intersection at 6,000 feet. The flight crew acknowledged the clearance, and made no further transmissions. The airplane struck a tree top and impacted the ground in a wooded area, which surrounded a mobile home complex. Examination of the tree, impact crater, and wreckage, revealed that the airplane struck the ground about an 80-degree nose-dow n, wings level attitude, with the nose of the airplane facing about 235 degrees. Debris from the wreckage was scattered from the main impact crater outward, about 337 feet, in a 180-degree arc about the centerline of the airplane. All of the airplane's major components and flight control surfaces were located at the accident site; however, the cabin and fuselage were fragmented into numerous pieces by the impact. Both wings were separated from their respective wing-to-fuselage attach fittings and remained at the impact crater. Both the left and right flaps were damaged; however, they remained partially connected at their wing flap track assemblies, and found in the full-retracted position. Sections of the outboard wings were located with the ailerons attached. Portions of the left and right wings, and fuel tip tanks, were located near the impact crater. The vertical stabilizer was found about 57 feet forward of the impact crater on a 200 degree magnetic heading, and the rudder was about 91 feet forward of the impact crater on a 250 degree magnetic heading. The engines and horizontal stabilizer were about 5 feet forward of the main impact crater. The rudder and elevator control stops were examined, and revealed normal wear. Continuity of the engine and flight control surfaces could not be determined due to impact damage. Both main landing gear assemblies were found inside the impact crater. The nose gear was found about 152 feet forward from the impact crater. The main and nose gear actuators were not found during the on-scene examination. The engines were removed from the accident site for further examination. The stabilizer trim actuator was found and removed from the accident site for further examination. Examination of the airplane maintenance records revealed that an "a" check had been complied with in accordance with Israel aircraft industries inspection guide, on December 10, 1999. During the inspection, the left-hand elevator was removed from the airplane, painted, balanced per the maintenance manual, and reinstalled. According to line service personnel at bfi, the airplane was last fueled on December 11, 1999, with about 958 gallons of jet a fuel. A fuel additive was also mixed with the fuel, as requested by the pilot. The weather reported by the wilkes-barre Wyoming valley airport, at 1645 was, calm winds, 10 statute miles of visibility, a ND clear skies. (-23)new york ARTCC cleared N50PL to munci intersection 6,000. A/c dropped from radar. No further communications were received.