# NTSB NYC89LA108: Beech TC-45J, N45861, Johnstown, PA, March 6, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 6, 1989, 09:25 local (14:25 UTC)
- Place: Johnstown, PA
- Location: 40.3156° N, 78.8347° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at JOHN MURTHA JOHNSTOWN/CAMBRIA COUNTY (JST), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3156&lon=-78.8347&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36389
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36389/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA108

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT.  THE CROSSWIND AND SNOW COVERED RUNWAY WERE RELATED FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT LANDED THE ACFT ON RWY 33 IN IMC WITH SNOW FALLING & SNOW ON THE RWY.  THE WIND WAS FROM 050 DEG A 14 KTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT SLID OFF THE SIDE OF THE RWY & THE NOSE GEAR FAILED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N45861](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45861-2018-08-25), registration cancelled 2018-08-25, S/N 46-7236, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH TC-45J
- Registry model: [Beech TC-45J](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-tc-45j) (registry code 1151022) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46-7236
- Airframe hours: 15164
- Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Centre Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 23, 1989, 85 hours before
- Departed: PHL, PHILADELPHIA, PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: JST, Johnstown-Cambria County, runway 33, 5,486 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,851 total, 3,075 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 14 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft broken
- Temperature: 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JST

## 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 19890306010479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890306010479A), Mar 6, 1989: Beech TC45J, Johnstown, PA, Substantial damage. Slid off snow covered runway after landing in a strong crosswind. Side load collapsed the nose gear.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.