N234NC – PIPER PA34 – 2016-02-09 NTSB Accident Report

On February 09, 2016, a Piper PA34 (N234NC) was involved in an incident near Williamsport, PA. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain altitude in cruise flight due to his diverted attention, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

The pilot reported that during a cross-country flight at night, he was attempting to deviate due to deteriorating weather. During which, he failed to maintain terrain clearance and the airplane contacted the top of a tree. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane uneventfully at an airport about 23 miles away from where the tree contact was made. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the wings and windshield. The inspector did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA16CA105. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N234NC.