# NTSB CHI86MA025: Cessna 441, N59MD, Derry, PA, November 11, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: November 11, 1985, 18:04 local (23:04 UTC)
- Place: Derry, PA
- Coordinates: 40.329929, -79.300834 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3299&lon=-79.3008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13533
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI86MA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13533/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86MA025

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS ADVISED THE DESTN WX WAS: ESTD 500' OVERCAST, VIS 1 MI WITH FOG, ARPT BLO MINS. THE PLT ELECTEDTO MAKE AN NDB RWY 23 APCH, BUT SAID HE WOULD DIVERT IF A MISSED APCH WAS MADE. HE WAS PROVIDED RADAR VECTORS & WAS CLRDFOR THE APCH. AT THE IAF (INITIAL APCH FIX/TINEY INTXN), RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED & THE PLT WAS TOLD TO CONTACT TWR. ON TWR FREQ, THE PLT WAS AGAIN REMINDED THE ARPT WAS BLO MINS. APRX 2 MIN LATER, HE RPRTD OVR THE OUTER MARKER (OM) WHICH WAS 4.2 MI PAST (SW OF) THE NDB/FINAL APCH FIX (FAF) & 3.9 MI NE OF THE ARPT. SECONDS LATER, THE TWR X-MITTED INFO (JUSTRECD FM ARTCC) THAT THE ACFT WAS 2-1/2 MI EAST OF COURSE. TWR TRIED TO NOTIFY THE PLT, BUT RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST. INV REVEALED THE ACFT IMPACTED A RIDGE NRLY 4 MI PAST THE NDB & 2 MI LEFT OF COURSE AT AN ELEV OF APRX 1900', BUT BFR PASSING THE OM. MIN DSCNT ALT (MDA) BTN THE NDB & OM WAS 2220' MSL. MDA AFTER PASSING THE 0M WAS 1940'; ARPT ELEV WAS 1161'. NO PREIMPACT ACFT PROBLEMS WERE FND. THE NDB FACILITY OPERATED SAFTISFACTORILY DURING FLT & GROUND CHECKS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59MD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59MD-2013-06-04), registration cancelled 2013-06-04, S/N 441-0177, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 441
- Registry model: [Cessna 441](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-441) (registry code 2076020) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0177
- Airframe hours: 1760
- Engines: AIRESEARCH TPE 331 635 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hy Flight Assoc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 11, 1985, 75 hours before
- Departed: RFD, ROCKFORD, IL
- Destination: LBE, LATROBE, PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LBE, Westmoreland County, runway 23, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 14,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 13,500 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 6 knots
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LBE, 6 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 19851111059659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851111059659A), Nov 11, 1985: Cessna 441, Latrobe, PA, Destroyed, 5 fatal. (.4)Drg arrival, the plt was advised the destn wx was: estd 500' overcast, vis 1 mi with fog, arpt blo mins. The plt electedto make an NDB rwy 23 apch, but…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.