Summary
On June 10, 1995, a Cessna 172E (N3070U) was involved in an incident near Muncy Valley, PA. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The non-instrument rated pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain after inadvertently entering instrument meteorological conditions. The weather conditions (haze and fog) were a factor in the accident.
On June 10, 1995, about 1200 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172E, N3060U, collided with mountainous terrain at an elevation of about 2,400 feet mean sea level, during climb to cruise near Muncy Valley, Pennsylvania. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Instrument meteorological conditions existed at the time and location of the accident. The personal flight departed Towanda, Pennsylvania, about 1140 and was destined for Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The non-instrument rated, private pilot reported that he received a weather briefing from a Flight Service Station about 90 minutes prior to departure.
This incident is documented in NTSB report BFO95LA059. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3070U.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the non-instrument rated pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain after inadvertently entering instrument meteorological conditions. The weather conditions (haze and fog) were a factor in the accident.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On June 10, 1995, about 1200 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172E, N3060U, collided with mountainous terrain at an elevation of about 2,400 feet mean sea level, during climb to cruise near Muncy Valley, Pennsylvania. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Instrument meteorological conditions existed at the time and location of the accident. The personal flight departed Towanda, Pennsylvania, about 1140 and was destined for Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The non-instrument rated, private pilot reported that he received a weather briefing from a Flight Service Station about 90 minutes prior to departure. He stated that he thought the flight could be operated to its destination in visual meteorological conditions. At the time of the accident, the pilot reported that the sky was overcast at about 2,800 feet above the ground.
The pilot reported, "Towanda is in a valley, surrounded by mountains. We departed S.E. bound in clear weather. Approx. 15 min into the flight we flew into some light haze or mist which would come [and] go. At this point we decided to make a 180 [degree] turn [and] return to Towanda. At that instant the haze thickened [and] did not clear. We started climbing from 2,500 [feet] for safety. Approx 5 seconds later we saw the trees on top of the mountain. We were unable to get over them. I pulled the yoke all the way back to minimize the speed just prior to impact." The airplane collided with trees and came to rest in foliage about five feet above the ground.
The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.
At 1250, the Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Weather Observation facility, located about 15 miles west of the accident site, reported:
Measured 900 variable overcast; ceiling variable 700 to 1,100 feet; 3 miles visibility with haze and fog; temperature 69 F; dew point 64 F; winds coming from 060 degrees at a velocity of 6 knots; altimeter setting 30.06
The pilot wrote on Safety Board Form 6120.1/2, Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, under the Recommendation (How could this Accident Have Been Prevented) section, "Should have conducted a 180 [degree] turn at first sight of hazy weather."
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# BFO95LA059