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NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

February 25, 1984 · Cessna 425 · N6886D

Dryden, NY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 25, 1984
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Dryden, NY
Aircraft
Cessna 425
Tail Number
N6886D
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC84FA092

The pilot stated that he was utilizing the autopilot and flight director to execute the ILS approach to runway 32. The autopilot was tracking the localizer while the pilot controlled the rate of descent along the glideslope with the pitch command wheel on the autopilot, using the command bars as a steering reference in addition to the raw data glideslope needle on the HSI. All seemed normal, according to the pilot, until the aircraft struck trees about 450 feet above airport elevation two miles short of the runway and came to rest on the localizer centerline. A zero foot ceiling with an eighth mile visibility existed at the airport. During the investigation, it was determined that the 1000A IFCS will not provide vertical steering commands as operated by the pilot, but is driven by the pitch wheel. This is not specifically stated in the POH. The pilot had flown extensively with the 800 series IFCS which will provide the expected steering commands. Extensive damage precluded a functional test of the raw data glideslope needle.

Full Narrative

THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS UTILIZING THE AUTOPILOT AND FLT DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE THE ILS APPCH TO RWY 32. THE AUTOPILOT WAS TRACKING THE LOCALIZER WHILE THE PILOT CONTROLLED THE RATE OF DESCENT ALONG THE GLIDESLOPE WITH PITCH COMMAND WHEEL ON THE AUTOPILOT, USING THE COMMAND BARS AS A STEERING REFERENCE IN ADDITION TO THE RAW DATA GLIDESLOPE NEEDLE ON THE HSI. ALL SEEMED NORMAL, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, UNTIL THE ACFT STRUCK TREES ABOUT 450 FEET ABOVE ARPT ELEVATION TWO MILES SHORT OF THE RWY AND CAME TO REST ON THE LOCALIZER CENTERLINE. A ZERO FT CEILING WITH AN EIGHTH MILE VSBY EXISTED AT THE ARPT. DURING THE INVSTGTN, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE 1000A IFCS WILL NOT PROVIDE VERTICAL STEERING COMMANDS AS OPERATED BY THE PLT, BUT IS DRIVEN BY THE PITCH WHEEL. THIS IS NOT SPECIFICALLY STATED IN THE POH. THE PLT HAD FLOWN EXTENSIVELY WITH THE 800 SERIES IFCS WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE EXPECTED STEERING COMMANDS. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE PRECLUDED A FUNCTIONAL TEST OF THE RAW DATA GLIDESLOPE NEEDLE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:50 EST
Nearest AirportTompkins County (3nm SE)
Runway32
Runway Length5801 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 425
Tail NumberN6886D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6A-112 · Turboprop · 450
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 54 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind350° @ 12 kt
Visibility25 sm
Ceiling100 ft
Temperature / Dew Point34 C / 34 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time15:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data