# Incident 20000723035769I: Cessna 335, Latrobe, PA, July 23, 2000

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 23, 2000, 07:38 local time
- Place: Latrobe, PA
- Airport: Westmoreland County
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3124° N, 79.3826° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Latrobe, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3124&lon=-79.3826&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2709R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2709R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 335 (registry code 2075601, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-335) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-520 series (registry code 17040, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 335
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO520*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,115 total, 81 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000723035769I

## Narrative

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

(-23) ABOUT 7:15 AM ON SATURDAY 7/22/2000 I ^PRIVACY DATA OMI^ PIC OF AIRCRAFT N2709R LEFT LBE ON AN IFR FLIGHT SOP AND SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF I NOTICED MY ALTIMETER WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, SO I TOLD THE TOWER I NEEDED TO LAND AND THEY SAID I NEEDED TO TALK TO CLEVELAND CENTER AND I NEEDED TO LAND TO CHECK PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT IF I COULD SEE THE AIRPORT I WAS CLEARED TO GO BACK AND LAND. I CIRCLED THE AIRPORT AND CENTER SAID IF I DIDN'T HAVE PROPER ALTITUDE REPORTING I'D HAVE TO GO TO ALLEGHENY AIRPORT WHERE IT WAS VFR BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T SET ME UP FOR AN APPROACH TO LBE. CENTER AND I CHECKED MY ALTITUDE A COUPLE OF TIMES AND IT SEEMED IT CAME BACK AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF FLYING. I TOLD THEM I WOULD CONTINUE TO CIRCLE TO SEE IF I COULD SEE THE AIRPORT AND AFTER I GOT TO THE END OF THE AIRPORT CLOSE TO THE END OF RUNWAY 23 I SAW A LARGE OPENING IN THE CLOUD DECK AND TOLD CENTER THAT COULD SEE THE RUNWAY AND COULD LAND WITH NO DANGER TO ANYONE. I WAS ABLE TO LAND THE PLANE WITH GROUND SIGHT THE WHOLE WAY BACK TO THE RUNWAY. THEY SAID THE TOWER HAD NO OTHER TRAFFIC AND I WAS CLEARED TO LAND WHICH I DID WITH NO PROBLEM. I TAXIED TO AN AREA OFF THE RUNWAY AND SHUT DOWN AND CHECKE D TO SEE WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE A PIECE OF TAPE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE PITOT TUBE. SINCE I HAD THE PITOT HEAT ON FOR THE FLIGHT INTO THE CLOUD DECK I IMAGINE AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT MUST HAVE MELTED OFF THE TUBE AND RESTORED MY ALTITUDE. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS I MISSED THE PITOT COVER OR SOMETHING WAS BLOCKING THE PITOT TUBE.

## Other reports on N2709R (1)

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

- [Incident 19870519043019I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870519043019I), May 19, 1987: Cessna 335 (N2709R), Baltimore, MD. Pilot mentioned low fuel on approach. Right engine quit due to fuel starvation. Improper fuel and radio management.

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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