# NTSB NYC89FA073: Grumman GA-7, N115DS, Spartansburg, PA, January 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 26, 1989, 16:23 local (21:23 UTC)
- Place: Spartansburg, PA
- Coordinates: 41.820468, -79.680931 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8205&lon=-79.6809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36265
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89FA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36265/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA073

## Probable cause

THE PILOTS DECISION TO DISREGARD THE WEATHER FORECAST AND ATTEMPT FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS. AFTER THE WINGS STARTED TO ICE UP, THE PILOT INITIATED A CLIMB BUT COULD NOT MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND INADVERTANTLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT WHICH ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED HIGH SPEED DESCENT TO THE GROUND.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather forecast - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb
  - climb - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - ice (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER RECEIVING A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM FSS THE PILOT DECIDED TO FLY INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS WITH AN AIRCRAFT THAT WAS NEITHER CERTIFIED NOR EQUIPPED FOR FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT 6,100 FEET WHEN THE PILOT TOLD ATC THAT HE WAS PICKING UP ICE AND NEEDED A HIGHER ALTITUDE. HE WAS CLEARED TO 8,000 FEET. ACCORDING TO ATC RADAR DATA, THE AIRCRAFT REACHED 6,500 FEET, AND 12 SECONDS LATER IT WAS AT 3,500 FEET WHEN RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEEN IN A HIGH SPEED DIVE AT FULL POWER JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N115DS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N115DS-1997-03-10), registration cancelled 1997-03-10, S/N GA70115 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN GA-7
- Registry model: [Gulfstream American GA-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-american-ga-7) (registry code 3970107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: GA-70115
- Airframe hours: 1566
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-D1D 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David W. Sweigart, doing business as Elizabethtown Air Inc.
- Registered owner: David W Sweigart
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1988, 98 hours before
- Departed: LNS, LANCASTER, PA
- Destination: MBS, SAGINAW, MI
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,510 total, 780 in this make and model, 322 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ERI, 25 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 19890126001219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890126001219A), Jan 26, 1989: Gulstm GA7, Spartansburg, PA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Operated into forecast severe icing conditions. Lost control and dived into the ground. Not equipped for icing.

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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