# NTSB NYC83FA060: Aero Commander 680FL P, N12LF, Sunbury, PA, February 3, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 3, 1983, 12:02 local (17:02 UTC)
- Place: Sunbury, PA
- Coordinates: 40.860214, -76.780784 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8602&lon=-76.7808&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35027
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83FA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35027/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83FA060

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - inadequate, atc personnel(fss) (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - ice (cause)
  - stabilizer - ice (cause)
  - aircraft performance - deteriorated (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AT APRX 0928 EST, THE PLT OBTAINED A FSS WX BRIEFING BY TELEPHONE. HE WAS BRIEFED ON CONDITIONS OF LOW CEILINGS, FOG, LIGHT RAIN, DRIZZLE, SNOW & BLOWING SNOW ALONG HIS ROUTE. HOWEVER, HE DID NOT ASK ABOUT ICING CONDITIONS & THE BRIEFING DID NOT INCLUDE A FLT PRECAUTION FOR ICING NOR A SIGMET (ISSUED AT 0820 EST) WHICH FORECASTED MODERATE TO SEVERE MIXED ICING. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PLT MADE SEVERAL ATLITUDE CHANGES BY REQUEST. WHEN HE WAS QUERIED ABOUT A HEADING DEVIATION, HE REPLIED 'WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE PROBLEM.' THIS WAS THE LAST RADIO CONTACT. ATC RECEIVED NO RADIO CALLS CONCERNING ICING PROBLEMS OR AN EMERGENCY. WITNESSES NEAR THE CRASH SITE SAW THE ACFT COME OUT OF THE CLOUDS IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT, ROTATING IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, THEN IMPACT & BURN. AIRFRAME ICE UP TO 1/2 INCH THICK WAS FOUND ON/NEAR PARTS THAT WERE NOT FIRE DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12LF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12LF-1995-02-14), registration cancelled 1995-02-14, S/N 149112 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 680FL P
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 680FL P](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-680fl-p) (registry code 0141610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0141610
- Airframe hours: 5052
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-720 B1B 400 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mainhardt Robert G.
- Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 1982, 37 hours before
- Departed: TEB, TETERBORO, NJ
- Destination: CLI, CLINTONVILLE, WI
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,650 total, 300 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: IPT, 25 nm away

## 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 19830203002289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830203002289A), Feb 3, 1983: Gulstm 680FLP, Sunbury, PA, Destroyed. Pilot proceeded into icing conditions when aircraft was not certified to operate in icing conditions.

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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