# NTSB NYC78FA021: Beech H50, N5581, Pottstown, PA, January 7, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 7, 1978
- Place: Pottstown, PA · POTTSTOWN, PA
- Location: 40.2509° N, 75.6448° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pottstown, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2509&lon=-75.6448&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143502
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FA021
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FA021

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0030   78/1/7  NR.POTTSTOWN,PA       BEECH H50           CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 39, 3900
        TIME - 1420                    N5581               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - POTTSTOWN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TETERBORO,NJ               POTTSTOWN,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER CONSIDERABLY BETTER THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                          DRIZZLE, RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       34
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           20                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- DRG VOR APCH DCNDD  BLO MDA,CONTD FLT AT LOW ALT STRUCK HI TRRN 2 MI NE OF ARPT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5581](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5581-1978-03-16), registration cancelled 1978-03-16, S/N HH-141 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH H50
- Registry model: [Beech H50](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h50) (registry code 1152534) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Pottstown

## 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 19780107001489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780107001489A), Jan 7, 1978: Beech E50, Pottstown, PA, Destroyed. Drg VOR apch dcndd blo mda,contd flt at low alt struck hi trrn 2NE of arpt.

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.

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