Beechcraft F33A N2154L

Summary

On 8 October 1996 at about 23:30 local time, a Beechcraft F33A registered N2154L was involved in an accident near Doylesburg, 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

8 October 1996 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Doylesburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.2191, -77.7001

Aircraft

Beechcraft F33A

Registration

N2154L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pittsburgh → Altoona

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC97FA004

2 people died.

continued VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain altitude and/or clearance from high terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, low ceiling, fog, and high (mountainous) terrain along the route.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before departure, the pilot was advised by Flight Service Station personnel that VFR flight was not recommended due to low clouds across the mountain ridges along the route of flight. The pilot then elected to depart on a night, VFR, cross-country flight. The airplane was reported missing, and it was located in mountainous terrain along the intended route. The crash site was near the top of a 2,100 foot mountain, at an elevation of about 2,000 feet msl. Cloud layers were reported between 1,500 and 2,500 feet msl at surrounding airports. Witnesses reported that the weather was rainy and foggy at the accident site. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of a preimpact malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.