# Accident 20160209001129A: Piper PA-34-200, Montoursville, PA, February 9, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 9, 2016, 06:30 local time
- Place: Montoursville, PA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.2417° N, 76.9219° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2417&lon=-76.9219&mi=10
- Aircraft: N234NC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N234NC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-34-200 (registry code 7103405, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 27,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA16CA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA105) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160209001129A

## Narrative

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

AIRMAN WAS FLYING NIGHT VFR OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT 1500' AGL. AIRMAN FAILED TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT DESCENDED AND STRUCK TREES. THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED AND CONTINUED TO FLY TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT WHERE IT LANDED SUCCESSFULLY.

## 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 ERA16CA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA105), Feb 9, 2016: Piper PA34 (N234NC), Williamsport, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain altitude in cruise flight due to his diverted attention, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

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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