Piper PA-28R-200 N33049

Summary

On 13 December 1994 at about 23:14 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N33049 was involved in an accident near Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 December 1994 at 23:14

Classification

Accident

Location

Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.8602, -75.8205

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N33049

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bradford → Allaire

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

BFO95FA020

2 people died.

the non-instrument-rated pilot's poor in-flight decision to continue VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, at night, and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude to ensure clearance from obstructions/terrain. Related factors were the instrument meteorological flight conditions (low ceiling and fog), the dark night, and the pilot's lack of total instrument flight experience.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT AT NIGHT OVER A MOUTAINOUS AREA. DURING FLIGHT, HE CONTACTED ATC AND REQUESTED FLIGHT FOLLOWING SERVICES. ATC ADVISED HIM TO MAINTAIN 5500' MSL, AND HE CLIMBED TO THAT ALTITUDE. DURING A FREQUENCY CHANGE (FROM WILKES BARRE APPROACH CONTROL TO ALLENTOWN APPROACH CONTROL) RADIO CONTACT WITH THE AIRPLANE WAS LOST. THE CONTROLLER TRIED SEVERAL TIME TO RE-ESTABLISH RADIO CONTACT, BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH TREES ON TOP OF BROAD MOUNTAIN AND WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT AND FIRE. WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER A 600' AREA. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING THAT INDICATED MARGINAL VFR WEATHER AND FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS FOR MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. ABOUT 25 MILES SOUTH AT ALLENTOWN, A SPECIAL WEATHER OBSERVATION AT 1822 EST REPORTED SNOW SHOWERS WITH 1 1/2 MILES VISIBILITY IN FOG. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.