# NTSB NYC95LA132: Beech 33, N943T, Franklin Twp, PA, June 12, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 1995, 20:00 local (Jun 12, 1995, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Franklin Twp, PA - Coordinates: 41.239376, -76.920936 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2394&lon=-76.9209&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38977 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38977/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA132 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper planning/decision, his continued flight into adverse weather conditions, and his delay in reversing course (diverting to a new destination). The adverse weather with thunderstorms was a related factor. ## 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 - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - flight into adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) - flight to new destination - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - Wheels up landing, emergency landing - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command - wheels up landing - intentional, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT/OWNER RECEIVED TWO WEATHER BRIEFINGS FOR A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT TO HIS BASE AIRPORT. BOTH BRIEFINGS INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE DESTINATION AREA. THE PILOT FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN, BUT DEPARTED VFR IN VMC CONDITIONS. HE PROCEEDED DIRECT TO HIS DESTINATION, AT 8,500 FEET, VIA LORAN NAVIGATION. THE VISIBILITY DECREASED DURING THE FLIGHT, AND THE PILOT CLIMBED TO 10,500 FEET. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PILOT RECEIVED WEATHER UPDATES FROM FLIGHT WATCH AND NAVIGATED AROUND BUILD-UPS NORTH AND SOUTH OF HIS COURSE. ALSO, WHILE EN ROUTE, HE FLEW OVER AN AREA WITH NUMEROUS AIRPORTS. ABOUT 30 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION, THE PILOT OBSERVED DARK CLOUDS IN ALL QUADRANTS AND ATTEMPTED A 180 DEGREE TURN. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A CLOUD BUILD-UP AND ENCOUNTERED STRONG POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE LOAD FORCES AND HEAVY PRECIPITATION. AFTER EXITING THE CLOUDS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY, WHEELS-UP LANDING. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 1995, at 2000 eastern daylight time, a Beech Be- 33, N943T, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing near Franklin Township, Pennsylvania. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, for the personal flight that departed New Haven, Connecticut, about 1800. An instrument flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, and during a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he received a weather briefing from the Bridgeport Automated Flight Service Station, at 1600, and an update from the Bangor Flight Service Station (FSS), at 1700. He was informed of a line of thunderstorms moving through his destination, Hagerstown, Pennsylvania, during both briefings. The pilot stated that he departed the Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), at 1800, and due to VMC at the departure airport, he did not activate his IFR flight plan. He climbed to 8,500 feet, and proceeded direct to Hagerstown using Loran navigation. While enroute, he contacted Boston Flight Watch and received a weather update. When the visibility decreased near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the pilot climbed to 10,500 feet, to stay above the haze level. He also navigated around cloud build ups north and south of his course. The pilot stated that about 30 miles north of his destination, he saw dark clouds in all quadrants, and decided to executed a 180 degree turn. During the turn, the airplane entered a cloud build up, experienced strong positive and negative load forces, and heavy precipitation. The pilot stated he was unable to hold heading or altitude. He lowered the landing gear and reduced airspeed for better controllability. When the airplane exited the clouds, the pilot was able to see the ground below, but was unsure of his exact location. He stated that he did not want to reenter the clouds, and entered an "emergency spiral descent." He then elected to make a precautionary landing on a dirt road. The pilot stated that he retracted the landing gear prior to touch down to avoid cartwheeling. During the landing roll, the airplane veered off the left side of the road. A review of aeronautical navigation charts revealed there were over 25 operating airports, within a 20 nautical mile radius of Harrisburg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N943T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N943T-2001-07-11), registration cancelled 2001-07-11, S/N CD-144 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 33 - Registry model: [Beech 35-33](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-33) (registry code 1151402) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CD-144 - Airframe hours: 4800 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-K 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert E Curley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1995, 25 hours before - Departed: HVN, NEW HAVEN, CT - Destination: HGR, HAGERSTOWN, PA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,092 total, 490 in this make and model, 971 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 12 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MDT, 40 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 19950611049659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950611049659A), Jun 11, 1995: Carlisle, PA, Substantial damage. (-16) Aircraft entered severe weather conditions. The pilot descended and landed in a field, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. ## Other investigations on N943T (1) 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 LAX70DUG35](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70DUG35), May 24, 1970: Beech 35-33 (N943T), Daggett, CA, 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. --- 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.