# NTSB NYC84FA059: Beech A36, N66846, Montoursville, PA, December 25, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 24, 1983, 21:53 local (Dec 25, 1983, 02:53 UTC)
- Place: Montoursville, PA
- Coordinates: 41.239181, -76.919906 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2392&lon=-76.9199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35308
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35308/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FA059

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach
  - door,passenger - open (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - flight compartment light(s) - engaged (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-1664
- Airframe hours: 900
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 48; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19831224075159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831224075159A), Dec 24, 1983: Beech A36, Montoursville, PA, Destroyed. Cabin door opened on climbout. Circled to land. Developed high sink rate on final. Struck trees crashed and burned.

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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