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February 2, 1988 · Cessna 337E · N1201M

Friedens, PA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 2, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Friedens, PA
Aircraft
Cessna 337E
Tail Number
N1201M
Operator
John F Higgins
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC88FA072

The 24 year old unlicensed pilot made an unauthorized flight in his father's aircraft. The Cessna 337 was observed to maneuver in the vicinity of the airport at a low altitude in and out of the clouds. The aircraft was then observed to come out of the clouds left wing high and the nose fell through the horizon. The aircraft impacted on the airport and was destroyed by the impact. The pilot was fatally injured. No pre-existing mechanical malfunction was found with the aircraft. Weather was estimated to be 200 ft variable 400 ft overcast, 1 mile visibility, with rain and fog. Witnesses reported that the pilot had flown solo in this aircraft and another 337 and a Piper Cherokee also based at this airport. No record could be found to indicate the pilot had ever possessed a medical certificate or taken any FAA rating exams. Witnesses said he had received flight instruction from his father, a retired airline captain.

Full Narrative

THE 24 YEAR OLD UNLICENSED PILOT MADE AN UNAUTHORIZED FLIGHT IN HIS FATHER'S AIRCRAFT. THE CESSNA 337 WAS OBSERVED TO MANUEVER IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT AT A LOW ALTITUDE IN AND OUT OF THE CLOUDS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN OBSERVED TO COME OUT OF THE CLOUDS LEFT WING HIGH AND THE NOSE FELL THROUGH THE HORIZON. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ON THE AIRPORT AND WAS DESTROYED BY THE IMPACT. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. NO PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND WITH THE AIRCRAFT. WEATHER WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 200 FT VARIABLE 400 FT OVERCAST, 1 MILE VISIBILITY, WITH RAIN AND FOG. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT HAD FLOWN SOLO IN THIS AIRCRAFT AND ANOTHER 337 AND A PIPER CHEROKEE ALSO BASED AT THIS AIRPORT. NO RECORD COULD BE FOUND TO INDICATE THE PILOT HAD EVER POSSESSED A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OR TAKEN ANY FAA RATING EXAMS. WITNESSES SAID HE HAD RECEIVED FLIGHT INSTRUCTION FROM HIS FATHER, A RETIRED AIRLINE CAPTAIN.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:05 EST
Nearest AirportSOMERSET (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 337E
Tail NumberN1201M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJohn F Higgins
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-360-G · Reciprocating · 210
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 24 · None

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility1 sm
CeilingOvercast 200 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data