# NTSB NYC91LA078: Piper PA-23-250, N5512Y, Punxsutawney, PA, February 19, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 19, 1991, 12:25 local (17:25 UTC)
- Place: Punxsutawney, PA
- Location: 40.9437° N, 78.9748° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Punxsutawney, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9437&lon=-78.9748&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36881
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91LA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36881/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA078

## Probable cause

INTENTIONAL FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH RISING TERRAIN, WHICH WAS OBSCURED BY FOG.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OBTAINED WEATHER INFORMATION FROM THE TV PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND USED LORAN AS A MEANS OF NAVIGATION TO HIS DESTINATION.  HE SAID HE OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT AND THEN EXTENDED SEVERAL MILES.  WHILE MANEUVERING TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, THE AIRPLANE FLEW INTO RISING TERRAIN, STRIKING TREES.  A WITNESS WHO HEARD THE CRASH DESCRIBED THE WEATHER AS FOGGY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WITH VISIBILITY BETWEEN 100 AND 200 FEET.  THE PILOT SAID HE WAS MANEUVERING AT 3000 FEET, HOWEVER, HE STRUCK A RIDGE AT APPROXIMATELY 2200 FOOT.  THE PILOT SAID THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD MAINTAINED A HIGHER ALTITUDE OVER THE SCATTERED CLOUDS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5512Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5512Y-1997-04-21), registration cancelled 1997-04-21, S/N 272608 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-2608
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: William J. Williams, doing business as Tru-Lite Int'L Inc.
- Registered owner: William J. Williams
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: BTP, BUTLER, CO
- Airport: N35, Punxsutawney Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 5,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 15 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day

## 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 19910219002799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910219002799A), Feb 19, 1991: Piper PA23250, Punxsutawney, PA, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed attempting to land. (.4) the pilot obtained weather information from the tv prior to departure and used loran as a means of navigation to his…

## Other investigations on N5512Y (2)

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 CHI83LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA211), May 13, 1983: Piper PA-23-250 (N5512Y), East Liverpool, OH, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI66F0536](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66F0536), Feb 1, 1966: Piper PA-23 (N5512Y), Columbus, OH, 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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