# NTSB NYC85FA125: Piper PA-31-350, N66892, Latrobe, PA, May 18, 1985 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 17, 1985, 20:20 local (May 18, 1985, 00:20 UTC) - Place: Latrobe, PA - Coordinates: 40.310886, -79.380218 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3109&lon=-79.3802&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 5 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 35811 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85FA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35811/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85FA125 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - flight/nav instruments,horiz situation ind(hsi) - failure,partial (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - improper - proper alignment - not maintained - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis DRG AN IFR ARRIVAL, THE ACFT WAS VECTORED FOR AN NDB RWY 23 APCH TO THE WESTMORELAND COUNTY ARPT. AT THE NDB FINAL APCH FIX (8.1 MI FROM THE RWY), THE CREW TURNED INBOUND & CONTD TO THE ARPT. THEY CONTACTED THE TOWER & REPORTED OVER THE ILS OUTER MARKER (AN INTERMEDIATE POINT ON THE NDB FINAL APCH, 3.9 MI FROM THE RWY). THE TOWER ISSUED THE LOCAL LANDING ADVISORIES & CLEARED THE ACFT TO LAND. MOMENTS AFTER THE COPLT ADVISED THE CAPT THAT THEY WERE 15 SEC FROM THE MISSED APCH PT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES. IMPACT OCCURRED 3.8 MI SE OF THE ARPT AT THE MIN DSCNT ALT (MDA) OF 1900 FT MSL. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT RECORDS INDICATED A RECURRING & CURRENT SQUAWK CONCERNING THE HSI SLAVING SYS. JUST BEFORE BEGINNINGTHE APCH, THE LATROBE WIND HAD CHANGED FROM 230 DEG AT 4 KTS (A HEADWIND) TO A STRONG QUARTERING TAIL WIND. DRG ARRIVAL THE CREW WERE ADVISED THE WIND WAS FROM 340 DEG AT 18 KTS. THEY HAD FIGURED THEIR TIMING TO THE MISSED APCH PT BY USING A GND SPEED OF 120 KTS. EARLIER THAT DAY, THE SAME CREW & ACFT HAD TERMINATED THE SAME NDB APCH, 1 MI EAST OF THE ARPT. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66892](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66892-2013-04-30), registration cancelled 2013-04-30, S/N 31-7405191, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7405191 - Airframe hours: 9567 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Cumberland Airlines, doing business as Cumberland Airlines - Registered owner: Cumberland Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, May 4, 1985, 45 hours before - Departed: PIT, PITTSBURGH, PA - Destination: LBE - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LBE, Westmoreland County, runway 23, 5,501 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,350 total, 280 in this make and model, 3,150 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk - Wind: 340° at 18 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LBE, 32 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 19850517067579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850517067579A), May 17, 1985: Piper PA31350, Latrobe, PA, Destroyed. Operator dispatched airplane with HSI slave inop. Shot approach off course and past airport, struck trees. ## Other investigations on N66892 (1) 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. - [NTSB IAD78IA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78IA080), Jul 13, 1978: Piper PA-31 (N66892), Baltimore, MD, incident, minor damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.