# NTSB NYC84FA135: Piper PA-34-200T, N33569, Johnstown, PA, April 7, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 6, 1984, 22:35 local (Apr 7, 1984, 03:35 UTC)
- Place: Johnstown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.28984, -78.970321 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2898&lon=-78.9703&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35330
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35330/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FA135

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (cause)
  - aircraft performance - deteriorated (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - proper climb rate - not possible

## Analysis

THE ACFT TOOK OFF WITH A CENTER OF GRAVITY BET 95.45 & 95.71 INCHES AFT OF THE DATUM & APRX 98 LBS BELOW THE MAX ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT. THE MAX AFT CG LIMIT FOR ALL WEIGHTS WAS 94.6 INCHES. WX AT THE APRX TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 400 FT CEILING, LIGHT SNOWSHOWERS, 4 MILES VISIBILITY WITH FOG, TEMP 29F, DEW POINT 29F. A SIGMET FOR MOD TO SEVERE ICING IN CLOUDS WAS ALSO IN EFFECT. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A 30 TO 40 DEG LEFT BANK. IMPACT OCCURRED APRX 1800 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF INFLIGHT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OF THE POWERPLANTS. ALTHOUGH THEACFT ARRIVED AT JOHNSTOWN WITH ICE ON THE WINGS AND TAIL, THE PLT RECEIVED A FULL WX BRIEFING AND WAS AWARE OF THE ICINGCONDITIONS PRIOR TO HIS LAST TAKEOFF. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE PLT DID NOT DEICE THE ACFT'S WINGS AND TAIL PRIOR THE ACCIDENT FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N33569](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33569-2012-11-06), registration cancelled 2012-11-06, S/N 34-7570133, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: PA-34-200T
- Airframe hours: 3351
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360E 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Roger M. Hansen
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Transport; Special, Provisional (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 1983, 234 hours before
- Departed: JST, JOHNSTOWN, PA
- Destination: SPI, SPRINGFIELD, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: JST1, Johnstown Cambria County, runway 12, 3,694 × 0 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,875 total, 440 in this make and model, 84 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 290° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JST, 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 19840406014179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840406014179A), Apr 6, 1984: Piper PA34200T, Johnstown, PA, Destroyed. Loaded near gross and ice on airframe struck trees off departure end of runway. Dark night fog and snow showers.

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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