# NTSB NYC86FA006: de Havilland DHC-6, N3257, Homer City, PA, October 12, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 11, 1985, 21:40 local (Oct 12, 1985, 01:40 UTC)
- Place: Homer City, PA
- Coordinates: 39.80075, -79.799934 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8008&lon=-79.7999&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30165
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC86FA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30165/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86FA006

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - normal
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (cause)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3257-2012-11-06), registration cancelled 2012-11-06, S/N 192, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-6
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-6-twin-otter) (registry code 2802606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [U/A Canada PT6 SER 578HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6-ser-578hp) (registry code 61501, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 192
- Airframe hours: 33487
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19851011056309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851011056309A), Oct 11, 1985: Dhav DHC6TWNOTTER, Homer City, PA, Destroyed, 1 fatal

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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