# NTSB NYC82FGM10: Beech E55, N4375A, Scandia, PA, April 6, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: April 6, 1982, 09:23 local (14:23 UTC)
- Place: Scandia, PA
- Location: 41.9128° N, 79.0353° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Scandia, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9128&lon=-79.0353&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 6, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72566
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82FGM10
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72566/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82FGM10

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - to cruise
  - pneumatic system - failure,total (cause)
  - flight/nav instruments,attitude indicator - inoperative
  - flight/nav instruments,directional gyro - inoperative
  - flight/nav instruments,turn and bank indicator - inoperative
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not possible, pilot in command
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AT 0834 EST, THE PILOT DEPARTED BRADFORD AIRPORT ON AN IFR FLIGHT TO ALTON, IL. ABOUT 4 MINUTES LATER, HE ADVISED THAT HE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH HIS FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS WHILE IN IFR CONDITIONS. HE ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT BY USING D.F. STEERS, BUT WAS UNABLE. HE THEN CONTACTED CLEVELAND CENTER AND WAS CLEARED TO CLIMB TO 8000 FT MSL. THE CENTER RECOMMENDED THAT THE PILOT PROCEED TO TORONTO, CANADA TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT WITH ACCEPTABLE WEATHER. HOWEVER, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL HIS ALTITUDE AND HEADING, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, ENTERED A DIVE AND CRASHED. THE HSI (ATTITUDE INDICATOR), DIRECTIONAL GYRO AND TURN COORDINATOR WERE FOUND TO BE PNEUMATIC PRESSURE INSTRUMENTS, ALL OPERATING FROM THE SAME SYSTEM. THE PNEUMATIC PRESSURE SYSTEM INCORPORATED TWO PRESSUE PUMPS, ONE ON EACH ENGINE. AN INSPECTION OF THE PUMPS REVEALED THAT BOTH PUMP DRIVES WERE SHEARED. RAIDO CALLS FROM THE PILOT HAD IDENTIFIED THAT ALL PRESSURE INSTRUMENT READINGS WERE FAULTY. WEATHER: TURBC, LOW CIG, SNOW.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4375A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4375A-1983-09-30), registration cancelled 1983-09-30, S/N TE-803, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E55
- Registry model: [Beech E-55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e-55) (registry code 1152732) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TE-803
- Airframe hours: 3689
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 280 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Control Chief Corp.
- Registered owner: Control Chief Corp.
- Departed: BRADFORD, PA
- Destination: ALTON, IL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,273 total, 353 in this make and model, 1,139 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 5° at 15 knots
- Temperature: 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19820406007979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820406007979A), Apr 6, 1982: Beech 95B55, Scandia, PA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. All atitude instruments were lost due to vacuum pump failure. Aircraft crashed out of control. P/N242CW airborne.

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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