Cessna 172 accident near Normalville, PA
On September 24, 1997, a Cessna 172 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Normalville, PA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 24, 1997
- Place
- Normalville, PA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.010°N, 79.421°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08909
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 23, 1997, at 2027 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N35405, was destroyed when it collided with trees and terrain while in cruise flight near Normalville, Pennsylvania. The certificated airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Steubenville, Ohio (2G2), approximately 2000, with an intended destination of Williamsport, Pennsylvania (IPT). No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received a report on September 24, 1997, at 1252, stating N35405 was missing. Approximately 1800, the airplane was found in wooded terrain on top of a ridgeline about 2,800 feet mean sea level (msl). In a telephone interview, a Park Ranger who lived approximately 1/2 mile from the accident site said that he heard the airplane, but did not see it. He said he could not recall what the weather was at the time of the accident. He stated: "When I heard the airplane, it sounded like the engine revved at its max for about 3 to 5 seconds. The engine was revved up -- really loud -- I mean max. I kept looking for the plane, but I never saw it." The Ranger further stated that he did not hear any sounds of impact and that days passed before he learned of the accident. The accident occurred in the hours of darkness about 39 degrees 58 minutes north latitude, and 79 degrees 21 minutes west longitude. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane multi-engine land and
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate clearance above an unlighted ridgeline in clouds and fog at night, and his decision to not file an IFR flight plan and his VFR flight into IMC conditions.
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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.
