- Date
- December 24, 1983, 21:53 local (Dec 25, 1983, 02:53 UTC)
- Place
- Montoursville, PA
- Injuries
- 3 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N66846Beech A36
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19831224075159A
- Case key
- 35308
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
During takeoff roll the overhead courtsey light flickered. As the acft lifted off the right front cabin door opened & the light remained on. The plt advised the tower he would be returning to land & entered a right downwind leg for rwy 27AT 500 ft AGL. The plt stated the interior of the acft became very noisy & cold so he elected to fly the downwind leg atabout 500 AGL to reduce the time of exposure to the elements. The ability to see the arpt was reduced on the right base as the plt had to look directly into the white overhead courtesy light. When the plt was able to see the arpt he was notin a position for a normal landing so he initiated a left turn to intercept the rwy 27 final approach path. The acft lost altitude rapidly & the tower issued two altitude warnings prior to the acft striking trees. The acft was destroyed by fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N66846
- Reported as
- Beech A36
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- E-1664
- Airframe hours
- 900
- Engine
- Continental I0-520-BB, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Leo R. Landhuis
- Registered owner
- Leo R. Landhuis
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Destination
- ROC · Rochester, NY
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- IPT · Williamsport, runway 27, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 700 total · 100 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 270° at 22 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,800 ft broken
- Temperature
- 1 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- IPT, 1 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.