- Date
- November 13, 1985, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Wellsville, NY
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1400HPiper PA-28-161
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19851113056829A
- Case key
- 30171
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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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
After departure the plt made 3 practice isl apchs at bradford regional arpt located 35 mls away. The acft returned to Wellsville and was cleared for rwy localizer apch. The plt radioed Wellsville UNICOM for advisories and was informed that a fog bank was over the apch end of rwy 28 with a 1/4 mi visibility. The plt acknowledged and about 5 mins later a ELT signal was received at the arpt. Another plt made the apch about 30 mins later. According to the plt during the apch he could see directly below but was unable to see the arpt. He made a missed apch and later landed after a 2nd apch. The acft collided with trees about 1/4 mi from the apch end of rwy 28. Examination of the acft did not disclose evidence of malfunction. There was no evidence of pilots' physical impairment or incapacitation. Flight test determined satisfactory operation of the LOC navaids.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1400H
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-771602
- Airframe hours
- 2,102
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Wellsville Flying Service, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 16, 1985 · 70 hours before
- Departed
- ELZ · Wellsville, NY
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ELZ · Wellsville, runway 28
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,122 as pilot in command · 254 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 100 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BFD
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.