Piper PA31 accident near State College, PA
On June 16, 2016, a Piper PA31 (airplane) was involved in an accident near State College, PA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 16, 2016
- Place
- State College, PA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA31 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.843°N, 77.843°W
- NTSB ID
- 20160616X04226
Official records · ERA16FA215
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 16, 2016, at 0830 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31-325, N3591P, was destroyed when it collided with terrain while on approach to University Park Airport (UNV), State College, Pennsylvania. The airline transport pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Aeronational, Inc. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the on-demand air taxi flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135. The flight departed Washington County Airport (AFJ), Washington, Pennsylvania, about 0800. According to the operator, the passenger was a regular customer who was routinely flown to UNV. The pilot was familiar with the passenger and the route and had completed the flight numerous times. Radar and voice communication information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that, at 0824:35, air traffic control (ATC) provided the pilot with a heading to intercept the final approach course for the instrument landing system RWY 24 approach at UNV and cleared the airplane for the approach. At 0825:30, the pilot was advised that radar services were terminated and was instructed to contact the tower controller at UNV. At 0825, the pilot contacted the UNV tower controller and announced, "…with you on the approach." The tower controller acknowledged the call and issued a landing clearance, which the pilot acknowledged. There were no further communications with the pilot despite multiple attempts by ATC. At
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to continue an unstabilized instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
More accidents in PA
- Boeing B-737-300, Sep 8, 1994
- Boeing 757, Sep 11, 2001
- British Aerospace J-3101, May 21, 2000
- Bell UH-1N, May 29, 2008
- Beech A36, Jul 30, 1989
Browse: Pennsylvania · Piper 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.
