Timothy C Williams CCK-1865 N541TC

Summary

On 7 December 2015 at about 23:27 local time, a Timothy C Williams CCK-1865 registered N541TC was involved in an accident near Linesville, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 December 2015 at 23:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Linesville, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Merrys Pymatuning Airport (PA01)

Coordinates

41.6936, -80.4247

Aircraft

Timothy C Williams CCK-1865

Registration

N541TC

Category

Airplane

Year built

2014

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Greenville → Linesville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA16FA063

2 people died.

The noninstrument-rated pilot's improper decision to attempt a flight under visual flight rules at night in instrument meteorological conditions to an unlit airstrip, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The noninstrument-rated pilot not receive a weather briefing before taking off on a personal flight on a dark, moonless night in instrument meteorological conditions. Review of GPS and engine monitor data revealed that, during the last 2 minutes of the 13-minute flight, the airplane descended to 500 ft above ground (agl) level and continued toward the destination airport, which had one turf runway with no lighting. The airplane then overflew the destination airport at 300 ft agl, continued on its course, and then impacted trees about 1 mile beyond the departure end of the airstrip. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The engine monitor data also showed that the engine was operating with cruise power up to the end of the data.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.