# NTSB NYC91FA112: Piper PA-30, N8073Y, Hollidaysburg, PA, April 13, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 13, 1991, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Hollidaysburg, PA
- Coordinates: 40.429008, -78.390792 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4290&lon=-78.3908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 7, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36788
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91FA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36788/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91FA112

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence
  - weather condition - icing conditions
  - weather condition - rain
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING AN INSTRUMENT CLIMB THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.  THE PILOT HAD DEPARTED THE AIRPORT DURING LOW CEILINGS WITH LIGHT RAIN AND FOG.  SEVERAL LAYERS OF CLOUDS EXISTED DURING THE CLIMB.  RAIN, THUNDERSTORMS, AND TURBULENCE WITHIN THE THUNDERSTORMS HAD BEEN FORECAST. PILOT REPORTS EAST OF THE FLIGHT PATH HAD INCLUDED LIGHT ICING FROM THE SURFACE TO FIVE THOUSAND.  THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN CLEARED TO SIX THOUSAND.  THE PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT NEW YORK CENTER WITH AN ALTITUDE READOUT OF 4500 FT . THE PILOT NEVER ESTABLISHED CONTACT. CLEVELAND CENTER LOST RDAR CONTACT AT 5300 FT AT APPROXIMATELY NINE MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES, CABLES, AND TERRAIN. BASED ON THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THE AIRPLANE MAINTAINED STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY UNTIL IMPACT. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION OF THE ENGINES REVEALED NO ANOMALIES THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. THE WRECKAGE PATH WAS 1,176 FEET LONG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8073Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8073Y-1993-05-06), registration cancelled 1993-05-06, S/N 301187 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-1187
- Engines: LYCOMING I0-320-C1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Frances Mccully
- Registered owner: Frank W. Marino
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: AOO, ALTOONA, PA
- Destination: N97, CLEARFIELD, PA
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 433 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AOO, 9 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 19910413010289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910413010289A), Apr 13, 1991: Piper PA30, Altoona, PA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Radar depiction indicates pilot lost control on IFR climb to cruise. Thunderstorms and icing in area. Low IFR time.

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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