- Date
- November 14, 2021, 18:59 local (23:59 UTC)
- Place
- Wilkes-Barre, PA · Hilly, wooded terrain
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6714SCessna 150
- Defining event
- Enroute: VFR encounter with IMC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20211114019499A
- Case key
- 104242
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 decision to commence the flight in marginal visual flight rules conditions at night, and his failure to maintain a safe altitude once instrument conditions were encountered.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was returning to his home base under night, marginal, visual flight rules conditions. While enroute, he inadvertently entered instrument conditions and a sudden “snow squall.” He was blinded by the snow and tried to maintain wings level. The airplane gradually descended and impacted trees and terrain, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He had received some instrument training; however, he was not instrument rated.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6714S
- Reported as
- Cessna 150 (H)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15067514
- Built
- 1967
- Airframe hours
- 4,554
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pocono Mountains Flying Club Inc
- Registered owner
- Pocono Mountains Flying Club Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 8, 2021
- Departed
- AVP · Wilkes-Barre, PA
- Destination
- MPO · Mount Pocono, PA
- Equipment
- ADS-B
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
- 58
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 196 total · 195 in this make and model · 16 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,100 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 41 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.76 inHg
- Observed at
- KAVP, 6 nm away
- METAR
- KAVP 142354Z VRB06KT 10SM OVC041 05/M02 A2976 RMK AO2 SLP083 T00501022 10072 20050 56002
Docket · 9
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 20, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 36.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.