- Date
- October 11, 1985, 21:40 local (Oct 12, 1985, 01:40 UTC)
- Place
- Homer City, PA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3257de Havilland DHC-6
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19851011056309A
- Case key
- 30165
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
The acft was observed flying at low altitude along about a 5 mile distance. Some witnesses described the acft altitude as just above treetops. Witness heard engine sounds and saw lights on the acft. The acft flight was on a southeast direction before it collided with rising terrain at a height of about 1250 ft. the wreckage was scattered along a distance of 375 ft and oriented on a 160 degree magnetic heading. The destination, pittsburgh, is located southwest of the departure point, state college. Evidence of acft malfunction was not disclosed. The acft had 1902 lbs of cargo including 65 lbs of dry ice which was contained in styrofoam boxes. Autopsy and toxicological findings were negative. The plt flew nightly, from state college to pittsburgh and returned the following morning. He operated a business during the day. Witnesses stated the plt was well rested and in good spirits before the flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3257
- Reported as
- de Havilland DHC-6
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 192
- Airframe hours
- 33,487
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-20, 550 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Mountain Air Cargo, Inc.
- Registered owner
- B & B Partnership
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · September 19, 1985 · 36 hours before
- Departed
- UNV · State College, PA
- Destination
- PGH · Pittsburgh, PA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 5,725 total · 574 in this make and model · 5,660 as pilot in command · 106 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Wind
- 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JST, 20 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.