- Date
- October 18, 1989, 22:36 local (Oct 19, 1989, 02:36 UTC)
- Place
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N197Cessna T337G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report June 2, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891018041399A
- Case key
- 36571
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
The pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision, and diverting of his attention, which resulted in fuel exhaustion to both engines. Darkness and trees in the emergency landing area were related 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
The pilot diverted to allegheny county airport to avoid weather and to refuel. During a vector to final approach, the landing gear would not extend. For about 1 hr and 10 min, the pilot tried to extend the landing gear. He decided to make a gear up landing; however. Before reaching the airport, fuel to both engines was exhausted. The airplane crashed into trees short of the runway. An investigation showed there was a hydraulic leak on the nose gear door actuator and a subsequent loss of hydraulic fluid. After the leak was repaired and the system was filled with hydraulic fluid, the landing gear operated with use of the power pack or hand pump.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N197
- Reported as
- Cessna T337G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- P3370203
- Engine
- Continental TSIO 360-CB-5, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert A. Harder
- Departed
- FTY · Atlanta, GA
- Destination
- AGC · West Mifflin, PA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- AGC · Allegheny Co
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
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 3,856 total · 2,848 in this make and model · 3,779 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.