# NTSB NYC83FA032: Cessna 172H, N9511H, Mount Alton, PA, November 27, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 26, 1982, 19:23 local (Nov 27, 1982, 00:23 UTC)
- Place: Mount Alton, PA
- Coordinates: 40.069976, -76.309463 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0700&lon=-76.3095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 26, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71783
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83FA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71783/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83FA032

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Undershoot, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (cause)
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - ice (cause)
  - propeller system/accessories,blade - ice (cause)
  - proper descent rate - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

WHILE ENROUTE THE PLT REPORTED HE WAS ICING UP & WOULD HAVE TO DIVERT TO BRADFORD. ABOUT 12 MI FROM THE ARPT THE PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY STATING HE DIDN'T THINK HE COULD MAKE A MISSED APPROACH WITH THE ICE BUILDUP. THE PLT THEN REPORTED A ROUGH ENGINE & AN AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 70K WITH FULL THROTTLE. JUST PRIOR TO THE CRASH THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD SO MUCH ICE ON HIS WINDSHIELD THAT HE COULDN'T SEE. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 1 MI SHORT OF RWY 32. COATING THE LEADING EDGE OF THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS AN ICE BUILDUP WHICH TAPERED IN THICKNESS FROM 1/4 INCH AT THE ROOT TO ABOUT 1-1/2 INCHES AT THE TIP. PIECES OF 3/4 TO ONE INCH THICK ICE WERE FOUND IN THE GROUND SCAR FOUND UNDER THE RIGHT WING. ICING CONDITIONS WERE FORECASTED ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9511H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17266189
- Airframe hours: 1865
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: William B. Plotts
- Registered owner: William B. Plotts
- Departed: ELM, ELMIRA, NY
- Destination: YNG, YOUNGSTOWN, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BFD, Bradford Regional, runway 32, 6,500 × 150 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 966 total, 890 in this make and model, 848 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 84 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BFD

## 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 19821126064239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821126064239A), Nov 26, 1982: Cessna 172M, Mt Alton, PA, Destroyed. Encountered heavy icing en route. Aircraft loaded with ice fell into trees short of runway on banking to see 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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