20190501003729A

On may 1, 2019, about 1251 eastern daylight time (EDT), N733KZ, a Cessna 172N, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain while maneuvering near Tyrone, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time for the visual flight rules (VFR) flight. The flight originated from university park airport (unv), state college, Pennsylvania about 1240 EDT. The destination was the pittsburgh/butler regional airport, butler, Pennsylvania.

The pilot obtained a preflight weather briefing utilizing foreflight. At 1253, a surface observation weather report taken at unv reported wind 190° 6 knots, 7 miles visibility, overcast clouds at 1,200 feet, temperature 13°c, dewpoint 11°c, altimeter 30.27 inches of mercury. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed through foreflight for the route of unv to psb then V58 to eared then direct btp. The estimated departure time was 1200, with an estimated time en route of 1 hour 7 minutes. The planned altitude was 4,100 feet and there was 5 hours 5 minutes of fuel on-board. On initial contact with unv air traffic control tower (ATCT) the pilot indicated that he would depart VFR and asked the controller to cancel the IFR flight plan. The pilot departed from runway 24, and was instructed to advise when leaving class d airspace. There were no further communications from the pilot.

ADS-B radar data depicted the likely target airplane departing and remaining on runway heading for 4.5 nautical miles (NM), climbing to 2,500 feet mean sea level (MSL). The track turned right to a west-southwest heading, descended to 2,000 feet MSL for approximately 10 NM. The flight then turned back to 240º. The airplane began a right turn before radar track data was lost at 1251:02, indicating the airplane was at approximately 2,050 feet MSL, at 40.762451° north latitude and -078.209609° west longitude.

A witness near the accident site reported at the time of the accident it was very foggy well below the top of the nearby ridge, but not raining. She observed the airplane west of her position ?come out of the fog? Flying ?straight? In a westerly direction. She reported the airplane banked to the right, then lost sight of it behind trees. She then heard the sound of an impact, followed by an explosion.

The commercial pilot held single engine land airplane and instrument airplane ratings with approximately 583 flight hours total time, of which 543 hours were in a Cessna C-172. He reported having 79.2 instrument hours, and 250.5 commercial hours. He held basic med, issued June 20, 2017. There were no previously reported accidents, incidents, or enforcements. The toxicology report was negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol and narcotics.

The airplane was in maintenance from June 2018 to March 29, 2019. The vacuum system and gyro operated flight instruments were removed. Dual garmin G5?s and garmin a dual axis garmin gfc 500 autopilot with pitch trim was installed. The altimeter and static system tests required by 14 CFR part 91.411, and transponder test required by 14 CFR part 91.413 were complied with. The annual inspection was completed on March 15, 2019. The airplane total time was 7,272.2 hours. The airplane was test flown by maintenance facility personnel.

The airplane struck wooded terrain about 2,185 feet MSL on sandy ridge mountain approximatly heading 337º. The accident site revealed pieces of the airframe in trees and on the ground. The cockpit and cabin were extensively impact and fire damaged. Wreckage pieces away from the cockpit and cabin did not exhibit fire damage and there were no bird remains noted among the wreckage. Correlation of the damage revealed the right wing first impacted a tree, then the rest of the aircraft impacted upsloping terrain. The propeller remained attached to the engine while retaining both blades and exhibited ?s? Bending indicative of powered rotation.