# NTSB NYC80FA085: Beech 58, N868AF, Middletown, PA, August 30, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 30, 1979
- 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: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 20, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202512
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC80FA085
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC80FA085-202512

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3692  79/8/30    MIDDLETOWN,PA       BEECH 58            CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 0600                    N868AF              PX-  0  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      47, 13000 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO S-D        300 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HARRISBURG INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PHILADELPHIA,PA             MIDDLETOWN,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       72
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- STRUCK TREES ON A HILL 1.8 MILES FM RWY THRESHOLD.NOSE BAGGAGE DOOR FOUND IN UNLOCKED POSITION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N868AF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N868AF-1980-01-23), registration cancelled 1980-01-23, S/N TH-469 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58
- Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- 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 19790830043439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790830043439A), Aug 30, 1979: Beech 58, Middletown, PA, Destroyed. Became too low on localizer approach. Struck trees on hill two miles short of runway.

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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