# NTSB NYC78FA028: Beech E18S, N180X, Middletown, PA, February 17, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: February 17, 1978
- Place: Middletown, PA · MIDDLETOWN, PA
- Location: 40.2009° N, 76.7292° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Middletown, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2009&lon=-76.7292&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 14, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143212
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FA028
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FA028

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0461  78/2/17    MIDDLETOWN,PA       BEECH E18S          CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 2332                    N180X               PX-  0  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      40, 8070 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO S-D        2435 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HARRISBURG INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MIDDLETOWN,PA               PITTSBURGH,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: SNOW WINDROWS
           WEATHER - FOG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WINDSHIELD,DIRTY,FOGGY,ETC.-RESTRICTED VISION
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          GROUND FOG                                               CALM
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- SINGLE PLT OPN,ENCTRD NEWLY FORMED GND FOG DRG NIGHT TKOF,LNDG LTS ON.UNDETECTED RWY DEV TO L.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N180X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N180X-2011-06-08), registration cancelled 2011-06-08, S/N BA-84, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E18S
- Registry model: [Beech E18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e18s) (registry code 1151006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Harrisburg Intl

## 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 19780217013019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780217013019A), Feb 17, 1978: Beech E18S, Middletown, PA, Substantial damage. Single plt opn,enctrd newly formed gnd fog drg night tkof,lndg lt. undetected rwy dev to l.

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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