- Date
- May 31, 1993, 12:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place
- Milroy, PA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2892SCessna 150
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930531015539A
- Case key
- 8776
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain clearance with terrain. Factors related to the accident include mountain obscuration and fog.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that while cruising over mountainous terrain, 'mountain obscuration and fog closed in tight in a hurry.' He attempted to stay clear of clouds and land at a nearby airport. The airplane entered clouds and impacted terrain. The pilot was not instrument rated. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.
Factual narrative
On May 31, 1993, about 1240 hours eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150, N2892S, registered to Richard S. Newark, Warren, Pennsylvania, was destroyed when it collided with mountainous terrain near Milroy, Pennsylvania, during cruise flight. The pilot received minor injuries; however, the sole passenger was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. It departed Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with an intended destination of Warren, Pennsylvania.
The pilot, Richard S. Newark, stated that he received a weather briefing from the Elkins, West Virginia, Flight Service Station prior to his departure. After departing from Lancaster, he was flying at 2500 feet mean sea level (msl) when "mountain obscuration and fog closed in tight in a hurry." He intended on discontinuing the flight to his final destination and landing at University Park Airport in State College, Pennsylvania, because of the worsening weather conditions. He utilized his LORAN to direct him towards the airport; however, he stated that he entered clouds and then impacted trees and terrain while "in straight and level flight." He reported that the airplane was "working perfectly" prior to the impact.
According to FAA inspector Al Groft, the airplane was found on the side of a hill at an elevation of about 1800 feet MSL.
The pilot was a certificated private pilot with no instrument rating. The pilot reported that he had logged about 350 hours of total flight time.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2892S
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15066792
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Richard S. Newark
- Registered owner
- Richard S. Newark
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- LNS · Lancaster, PA
- Destination
- 7PA1 · Warren, PA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 350 total · 350 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 800 ft broken
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- UNV, 15 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.