- Date
- November 19, 1988, 12:07 local (17:07 UTC)
- Place
- Gans, PA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2153UPiper PA-28RT-201T
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 16, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19881119051289A
- Case key
- 36260
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Pilot's bad judgement in flying in weather conditions beyond the capabilities of his aircraft. The pilot overstressed the aircraft and sheared the left wing by making an abrupt turn in turbulent air above the design maneuvering speed (VA). The accumulation of ice, flying in IMC conditions and a problem with the attitude indicator were contributing factors.
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
Drg a wx briefing before takeoff, the plt was adzd of ice pellets, clear icing & moderate to severe turbc in western Pennsylvania. After takeoff, he obtained an IFR clnc at 1144 EST & was eventually clrd to climb to 13,000'. The plt inquired about the cloud tops & was adzd they were in excess of FL 280. At 1202 EST, while climbing thru aprx 11,800', the plt requested clnc to return to the departure arpt. He was clrd to turn to 090 deg, while ATC was coordinating an IFR clnc back to the arpt. At 1203 EST, the plt was asked if he was having any difficulty & he replied that he was picking up ice & was having a problem with his attitude indicator. At aprx 1204, the plt was given a freq change, & shortly thereafter, radio & radar contact were lost. Before the acft crashed, a witness saw it tumbling with one wing missing. The left wing & pieces of the empennage were found aprx 1/2 to 1-1/4 mi from the wreckage with evidence of positive overload.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2153U
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28RT-201T (PA-28RT-20)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-7931098
- Airframe hours
- 2,091
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-360-FB, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- James Jacobs/Daniel Ferri
- Registered owner
- Daniel Ferri/James W Jacobs
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1988 · 98 hours before
- Departed
- 5G8 · Jeannette, PA
- Destination
- JAX · Jacksonville, PA
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- 44
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,513 total · 539 in this make and model · 1,423 as pilot in command · 26 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MGW, 9 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.