# NTSB NYC89FA167: Piper PA-24-250, N6206P, Hartleton, PA, July 16, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1989, 11:58 local (15:58 UTC)
- Place: Hartleton, PA
- Coordinates: 40.899787, -77.16043 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8998&lon=-77.1604&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36290
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89FA167
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36290/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA167

## Probable cause

THE PILOT ALLOWED THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT TO BE EXCEEDED AFTER ENCOUNTERING ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.  WEATHER WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - updraft (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, other
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight control,stabilator - overload
  - flight control,stabilator - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON AN IFR FLT AT 7000 FT. AT 1158:29, THE PLT RPRTD, 'SIX TWO ZERO SIX PAPA SPINNING.'  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED ON WOODED TERRAIN NEAR THE TOP OF A MTN RIDGE. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, WHO SAW THE ACFT BEFORE IT CRASHED, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL CLOUD FORMATION IN THE AREA, AS WELL AS STRONG/GUSTY WINDS. HE SAID HE SAW THE ACFT DISAPPEAR BEHIND A WALL OF CLOUDS & REAPPEAR. HE INDICATED THE ACFT ENTERED A SPIN, THEN FLEW BACK UP ALMOST AS FAST AS IT CAME DOWN, BEFORE CRASHING. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS SEPARATED IN FLT. THEY WERE FOUND AWAY FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE & HAD FAILED IN A DOWNWARD DIRECTION FROM OVERLOAD. NO OTHER PREIMPACT PART FAILURE WAS EVIDENT. WEATHER RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT THE ACFT HAD CRASHED IN THE AREA OF A LEVEL 2 ECHO.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6206P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6206P-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 24-1308, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1308
- Airframe hours: 3344
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1C5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard F. Cook
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 26, 1988, 25 hours before
- Departed: BFD, BRADFORD, PA
- Destination: N47, POTTSTOWN, PA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial; 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: 4,419 total, 24 in this make and model, 4,361 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SEG, 17 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 19890716028449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890716028449A), Jul 16, 1989: Piper PA24250, Hartleton, PA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Appears entered squall line,lost control in microburst. Airframe failure and crash. Observed spinning prior crash.

## Other investigations on N6206P (1)

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.

- [NTSB UNK64X1873](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1873), May 22, 1964: Piper PA24 (N6206P), Freemason Is, LA, substantial damage

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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