Cessna 172F accident near Conrad, PA
On January 25, 1997, a Cessna 172F (airplane) was involved in an accident near Conrad, PA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 25, 1997
- Place
- Conrad, PA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172F · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.650°N, 76.849°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07346
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 25, 1997, approximately 1825 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172F, N8835U, was destroyed when it descended through trees and impacted terrain while in cruise flight near Conrad, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at the point of departure and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 originated at the University Park Airport (UNV) in State College, Pennsylvania, at 1749, with an intended destination of Elmira/Corning Regional Airport (ELM) Elmira, New York, approximately 90 miles to the northeast of UNV. The pilot flew from Elmira to State College on January 25, 1997, and arrived at State College approximately 1500. The purpose of the trip was to visit his son at school. According to his son, the pilot described the flight to State College as "..rough, windy and bumpy the whole way. He said he was tired. He was a little excited about the wind speed. He was less than thrilled about the rough air. ... He said he was dodging cumulus [clouds] most of the way." The pilot received a telephonic weather brief for a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight approximately 1700 from the Altoona Flight Service Station (FSS) for the return flight to ELM. The briefer advised the pilot "...that a VFR was not recommended now until zero three hundred zulu (2000 EST) ... this airmet sierra shows that there's a possibility of mountains occasionally obscured [by] clouds, precipitation, fog, or mist." The briefer further advised that winds forecast along the
Probable cause
VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and spatial disorientation of the pilot, which led to loss of aircraft control, an uncontrolled descent, and subsequent collision with wooded terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, adverse weather conditions, the pilot's lack of instrument experience, and the wooded, mountainous/hilly terrain.
More accidents in PA
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Browse: Pennsylvania · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
