- Date
- December 2, 1983, 15:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place
- Hershey, PA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6246LCessna 172H
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19831202075089A
- Case key
- 35301
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Prior to takeoff the plt was advised that 'a storm was moving in.' The plt replied he knew that & was only going up for a short flt. Shortly after takeoff snow began to fall, & the acft was observed flying perpendicular to the rwy below traffic pattern altitude. The acft made several approaches, but on each approach the acft was either too high or midway down the rwy. Prior to the last aborted landing attempt, the acft had passed beyond the midpoint of the rwy, still high,with about 10 deg of flaps extended. During this time the falling snow had increased in intensity. Shortly thereafter the acft crashed. The wx at the arpt was observed as 'snowing heavily and poor visibility.'
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6246L
- Reported as
- Cessna 172H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17255846
- Airframe hours
- 1,772
- Engine
- Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Frederick D. Hite
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 58N · Palmyra, PA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 85
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 463 total · 194 in this make and model · 335 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 600 ft
- Temperature
- 34 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HAR, 12 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.