- Date
- February 22, 1987, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Port Matilda, PA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N757BQCessna 152C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 15, 1988
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870222082999A
- Case key
- 30485
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 university student departed the university air park airport in state college, PA on a local flight in VFR weather conditions. The aircraft nosed into the ground in an approximate 70 degree dive about 10 minutes after takeoff. The pilot was engaged in low flight over his parents residence for the purpose of making an 'air drop'. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact failures or malfunctions of the aircraft structure, flight control systems or powerplant.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N757BQ
- Reported as
- Cessna 152C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15279613
- Airframe hours
- 2,880
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 108 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Nittany Aero Club,Inc.
- Registered owner
- Nittany Aero Club Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 30, 1986 · 477 hours before
- Departed
- UNV · State College, 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
- 21
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 108 total · 71 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,800 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- IPT, 10 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.