CHI96FA045

The pilot was flying at night in IMC conditions. He contacted Cleveland ARTCC and requested radar vectors to the final approach course for the NDB runway 24 approach at Somerset, PA. During vectors for the approach, the pilot was cleared to descend and maintain 4,500 feet until established on the published segment of the approach, then was cleared for the NDB approach. While intercepting the final approach course, the pilot was informed of VFR traffic ahead at 3,500' and was asked to say his altitude. The pilot said he was at 3,700'. The controller then transmitted 'suggest you maintain 3,500 if you can, traffic twelve o'clock less than 2 miles, 3,300.' When the traffic was no longer a factor, the controller told the pilot 'traffic just passed underneath you, 3,300, you can resume your normal descent, cleared for the approach.' The airplane was still about 4.5 miles from the NDB. The minimum altitude at the final approach fix located at the NDB was 3,800 feet. The wreckage was located about 2.6 miles and 080 degrees from the Somerset NDB, and about one half mile south of the final approach course. Elevation at the wreckage site was about 2,630 feet. The minimum descent altitude for the NDB approach was 2,840 feet. Examination of the airplane and its engine failed to reveal any preimpact anomalies.

History of Flight

On December 3, 1995, at 1743 eastern standard time (All times in EST unless noted), a Piper PA-28, N8775W, was destroyed when it impacted the ground near Friedens, Pennsylvania. The private pilot received fatal injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed Watertown, Wisconsin, en route to Somerset, Pennsylvania. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. An instrument flight plan had been filed.

A witness reported that the pilot had planned to depart from Watertown Municipal Airport, Watertown, Wisconsin, at 1200 central standard time (CST), but was delayed and did not depart until 1245 CST. The witness reported that the pilot knew that it would be dark when he arrived at his destination. He had also originally plannned to go over Lake Michigan, but decided instead to go around the lake, which increased his en route time by 15 minutes. The witness reported that the pilot had flown in Pennsylvania numerous times, and was aware that he needed to clear the ridge going into Somerset County Airport.

On December 3, 1996, at about 1130 CST, the pilot accessed the WeatherMation Flight Plan as part of his preflight planning. The pilot entered his takeoff airport as Watertown (RYV), Wisconsin, and the destination airport as Somerset (2G9), Pennsylvania. The alternate airport was Johnstown (JST), Pennsylvania. The pilot entered the following information:

Estimated departure time was 1200 CST; altitude was 8000 feet; fuel on board was 84 gallons; true airspeed was 115 knots; fuel burn rate was 12 gallons per hour.

The computed total distance was 563 nautical miles, and the time en route was 4+15 hours. The computed total fuel burn was 48 gallons.

The WeatherMation Flight Plan indicated that 2G9 observation and terminal forecast weather were not available. It also indicated there were no current Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) for 2G9 on record.

The pilot filed an instrument flight plan with the Green Bay Automated Flight Service Station on December 3, 1996, at about 1209 CST. The proposed takeoff time listed was 1230 CST. The route of flight indicated a departure from Watertown, Wisconsin, with Somerset, Pennsylvania, as the destination airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) form, Report of Aircraft Accident, indicated that the pilot contacted the Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), Wheeling sector, at 1639. The airplane's altitude was at 9,000 feet above mean sea level (All altitudes in MSL unless noted).

At 1647, the pilot requested a lower altitude due to icing, and was issued a descent to 7,000 feet. At 1651, the pilot reported icing at 7,000 feet and was issued a clearance to descend to 5,000 feet. At 1655, the pilot was questioned concerning the icing at 5,000 feet by the Wheeling air traffic controller. The pilot responded that there was just moisture at 5,000 feet.

At 1713, the pilot contacted the Cleveland ARTCC, Indianhead (IHD) sector, and reported that he was level at 5,000 feet. The controller advised the pilot that the Somerset localizer was out of service. At 1718, the pilot requested the NDB 24 approach to Somerset. At 1720, the pilot requested radar vectors to the final approach course for the NDB 24 approach.

At 1732:28, the controller instructed the pilot to descend to 4,500 feet.

At 1737:09, the controller instructed the pilot that the airplane's position was seven miles from the NDB, and he told the pilot to turn right to 220 degrees and maintain 4,500 feet until established on a published segment of the approach. The controller cleared the pilot for the NDB approach.

At 1738:39, the controller informed the pilot of traffic at 11 o'clock at five miles, northeast bound, VFR, at 3,500 feet. The pilot responded that he was "in the soup."

The controller gave the pilot two more heading changes. Then at 1740:28 the controller stated, "Seven five whiskey, understand you're established."

At 1740:33, the controller informed the pilot that he had traffic at 12 o'clock at two miles. At 1740:45, the controller called the traffic at 12 o'clock and less than two miles, at 3,500 feet.

At 1740:53, the controller asked the pilot what his altitude was. The pilot responded that he was at 3,700 feet.

At 1740:59, the controller stated, "Seven five whiskey, suggest you maintain 3,500 if you can. Traffic 12 o'clock, less than two miles, 3,300."

The pilot responded, "Seven five whiskey, we'll try and maintain 3,500."

At 1741:31, the controller stated, "Seven five whiskey, traffic just passed underneath you, 3,300. You can resume your normal descent. Cleared for the approach."

The pilot acknowledged that he was cleared for the approach at 1741:38.

Radar data indicates that the position of the aircraft at 1741:31 was 3,600 feet at about 077 degrees and 4.5 nautical miles from the Somerset NDB when the pilot was cleared to to resume "your normal descent" and "cleared for the approach."

The NDB 24 approach plate for Somerset County Airport indicates that the minimum altitude at the final approach fix was 3,800 feet. The final approach fix was located at the Somerset NDB.

The controller told the pilot to change to the advisory frequency and to report cancellation to the Altoona radio. The pilot acknowledged the instructions at 1741:48.

There were no further radio transmissions made by the pilot.

At 1853, an Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued for the airplane by the FAA. A search was made for the aircraft and it was located about 7.5 nautical miles northeast of the Somerset County Airport at about 2355.

Personnel Information

The pilot had a private pilot's certificate with an instrument rating. He had a total of 878 flight hours with 744 hours in make and model. He had logged a total of 62.5 hours of actual instrument time, 95.6 hours of simulated instrument time, and 69 hours of night time. The pilot participated in the FAA Wings Program and had satisfactorily completed the Wings Program Phase II on February 26, 1994.

Witnesses reported that the pilot was a conscientious, avid flyer. They reported that he kept current and knew his procedures well. They reported that he practiced full NDB approaches, but would take radar vectors if he was in actual instrument conditions.

The pilot held a third class Medical Certificate.

A witness reported that the pilot always wore glasses, and that he could not have read his charts without them. The witness reported a spare pair of glasses were always kept in the airplane.

Aircraft Information

The airplane was a Piper PA-28, Cherokee Six, with a Lycoming 235 horsepower engine. It was owned and operated by the pilot. The last annual inspection was performed on June 9, 1995. The total airframe hours were 3,109 hours. The total engine time was about 2,158 hours since major overhaul.

Meteorological Conditions

The WeatherMation Flight Plan printout used by the pilot for his preflight planning indicated that the terminal forecast weather for Johnstown, Pennsylvanina, 20 miles at 026 degrees from Somerset County Airport, between 1200 to 2100 was:

Ceiling 3,000 foot overcast, wind 240 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 18, with occasional ceilings of 1500 feet overcast, with light rainshowers.

The weather conditions in the Somerset area at the time of the accident were:

Johnstown Record Special 1745: Estimated ceiling 400 feet broken, 1,300 feet overcast, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, temperature 46 degrees, dew point 38 degrees, wind 280 degrees at 8 knots, altimeter 29.87.

The Automated Weather Obsevation System (AWOS) for Somerset County Airport was reporting the following weather at 1740:

1,700 feet broken, 2,200 feet broken, 2,600 feet overcast, seven miles visibility, winds 250 degrees at 10 knots, altimeter 29.91.

Aids to Navigation

The minimum vectoring altitude for the NDB-24 approach was 4,500 fee