# NTSB ATL86FA039: Piper PA-30, N7770Y, Corning, NY, December 11, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 11, 1985, 10:23 local (15:23 UTC)
- Place: Corning, NY
- Coordinates: 42.139255, -77.049903 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1393&lon=-77.0499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6913
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL86FA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6913/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86FA039

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - flight manuals - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - excessive workload (task overload), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command

## Analysis

DURING ILS RUNWAY 6 APPROACH ACFT HIT HIGH TERRAIN SHORT OF THE OUTER MARKER. WHEN ON DOWNWIND FOR APPROACH PILOT SAID HE WAS NOT RECEIVING THE LOCALIZER AND ASKED FOR A SURVEILLANCE APPROACH. CONTROLLER SAID HE COULD NOT PROVIDE. WHEN CLEARED FOR THE ILS APPROACH PILOT SAID HE WAS EXPECTING AN APPROACH TO ELMIRA. CONTROLLER SAID HE WAS GETTING APPROACH TO ELMIRA AND REPEATED CLEARANCE. PILOT SAID HE HAD AN APPROACH CHART FOR RUNWAY 24 BUT NOT 6. HE WAS GIVEN LOCALIZER FREQ. AND LATER REPORTED ON THE LOCALIZER COURSE. RADAR DISPLAY INDICATED SAME. POST CRASH TESTING SHOWED GLIDE SLOPE RECEIVER IN ACFT WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT BUT CAPABLE OF FUNCTIONING. ACFT APPEARED TO HAVE FLOWN INTO TREES IN LEVEL ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7770Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7770Y-1988-06-03), registration cancelled 1988-06-03, S/N 30856 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-856
- Airframe hours: 2009
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-BIA 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Fred Riger
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 1985, 81 hours before
- Departed: LDJ, LINDEN, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ELM, Elmira, runway 6

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,719 total, 3,601 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELM, 5 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19851211066279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851211066279A), Dec 11, 1985: Piper PA30, Corning, NY, Destroyed. Descended into trees during approach. No approach plate for the ILS being flown. Higher than recommended airspeed.

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.

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