# NTSB NYC90LA032: Piper PA-32R-300, N1028Q, Johnstown, PA, November 23, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 22, 1989, 23:05 local (Nov 23, 1989, 04:05 UTC)
- Place: Johnstown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.359565, -78.87033 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3596&lon=-78.8703&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36586
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90LA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36586/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA032

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE ON AN ILS FINAL APPROACH, WHICH ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO DESCEND BELOW THE GLIDE PATH AND COLLIDE WITH APPROACH LIGHTING.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  DARKNESS, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY IN KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER (ICING) CONDITIONS, AND STRUCTURAL ICING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - approach light/navaid
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT THE WX WAS: 300' OVC, VIS 3 MI WITH FRZG RAIN, LGT DRZL & LGT SNOW.  HE INITIATED AN ILS RWY 33 APCH & ENCTRD TURBC.  HE ELECTED TO MAKE A MISSED APCH & FLEW BACK FOR A 2ND APCH.  ON THE 2ND APCH, HE ENCTRD TURBC AGAIN, THEN NOTICED THE ACFT WAS LOSING SPEED.  THE PLT SAID HE APPLIED FULL POWER & THAT WAS THE LAST THING HE COULD REMEMBER.  THE ACFT CRASHED WHEN IT STRUCK APCH LGTS ABOUT 600' SHORT OF THE RWY.  WHEN THE ACFT WAS EXAMINED THE NEXT DAY, AIRFRAME ICE WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE LEADING EDGE & LOWER SFC OF THE WINGS.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND.  DRG A WX BRIEFING BEFORE THE FLT, THE PLT HAD BEEN GIVEN ADVISORIES FOR SNOW & LGT TO MOD RIME ICING CONDITIONS.  THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED FOR FLT IN KNOWN ICG CONDS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1028Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1028Q-1990-07-25), registration cancelled 1990-07-25, S/N 32R7780218 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7780218
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: A & G Air Of N.J., Inc.
- Registered owner: Ang Air Of N.J., Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CDW, FAIRFIELD, NJ
- Destination: JST
- 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 36; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,568 total, 162 in this make and model, 2,247 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 21 °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 19891122046389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891122046389A), Nov 22, 1989: Piper PA32R300, Johnstown, PA, Substantial damage. Missed approach in freezing drizzle on second try struck approach lights short of runway.

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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