- Date
- January 18, 1997, 16:35 local (21:35 UTC)
- Place
- University Park, PA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2803AAerospatiale TB-20
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970118047139A
- Case key
- 28174
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 inability to control the airplane due to a damaged/bent elevator control lever and resultant lack of elevator authority.
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 during preflight, the elevator controls 'seemed normal with full travel forward and aft.' After takeoff, the pilot noticed that he could not maintain normal takeoff pitch attitude. The airplane continued an excessive climb rate out of his control, even with full forward yoke. The pilot stated that to control the airplane, power adjustments were needed to keep the nose down. He maneuvered to land on the airport; however, on final approach to land, the airplane stalled just above the runway numbers. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed bending of the elevator control lever due to overload from an undetermined source.
Factual narrative
On January 18, 1997, at about 1635 eastern standard time, a Aerospatiale Trinidad TB-20, N2803A, crashed shortly after takeoff when the pilot, after rotation, experienced elevator control problems. The pilot returned to runway 24 and crashed while attempting an emergency landing at the University Park Airport, State College, Pennsylvania. The pilot and passenger were not injured, however, the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual Flight Rules prevailed, however an IFR flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that during preflight the elevator controls "seemed normal with full travel forward and aft". After takeoff, the pilot noticed that he could not maintain normal takeoff pitch attitude and the airplane continued an excessive climb rate out of his control. The pilot state that to control the airplane, power adjustments were needed to keep the nose down. The pilot stalled the airplane on final approach just above the runway numbers.
Examination of the wreckage revealed bending of the elevator control lever due to overload from an undetermined source.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2803A
- Reported as
- Aerospatiale TB-20
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1036
- Airframe hours
- 955
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-CD D50, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert E. Young
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 4, 1996 · 82 hours before
- Departed
- UNV
- Destination
- ILG · Wilmington, DE
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- UNV · University Park, runway 24, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
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
- 64
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,622 total · 1,760 in this make and model · 2,566 as pilot in command · 41 in the last 90 days · 31 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 280° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 16 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- UNV
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.