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November 27, 1982 · Cessna 172H · N9511H

Mount Alton, PA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 27, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Mount Alton, PA
Aircraft
Cessna 172H
Tail Number
N9511H
Operator
William B Plotts
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC83FA032

WHILE ENROUTE THE PLT REPORTED HE WAS ICING UP & WOULD HAVE TO DIVERT TO BRADFORD. ABOUT 12 MI FROM THE ARPT THE PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY STATING HE DIDN'T THINK HE COULD MAKE A MISSED APPROACH WITH THE ICE BUILDUP. THE PLT THEN REPORTED A ROUGH ENGINE & AN AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 70K WITH FULL THROTTLE. JUST PRIOR TO THE CRASH THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD SO MUCH ICE ON HIS WINDSHIELD THAT HE COULDN'T SEE. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 1 MI SHORT OF RWY 32. COATING THE LEADING EDGE OF THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS AN ICE BUILDUP WHICH TAPERED IN THICKNESS FROM 1/4 INCH AT THE ROOT TO ABOUT 1-1/2 INCHES AT THE TIP. PIECES OF 3/4 TO ONE INCH THICK ICE WERE FOUND IN THE GROUND SCAR FOUND UNDER THE RIGHT WING. ICING CONDITIONS WERE FORECASTED ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLT.

Full Narrative

WHILE ENROUTE THE PLT REPORTED HE WAS ICING UP & WOULD HAVE TO DIVERT TO BRADFORD. ABOUT 12 MI FROM THE ARPT THE PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY STATING HE DIDN'T THINK HE COULD MAKE A MISSED APPROACH WITH THE ICE BUILDUP. THE PLT THEN REPORTED A ROUGH ENGINE & AN AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 70K WITH FULL THROTTLE. JUST PRIOR TO THE CRASH THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD SO MUCH ICE ON HIS WINDSHIELD THAT HE COULDN'T SEE. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 1 MI SHORT OF RWY 32. COATING THE LEADING EDGE OF THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS AN ICE BUILDUP WHICH TAPERED IN THICKNESS FROM 1/4 INCH AT THE ROOT TO ABOUT 1-1/2 INCHES AT THE TIP. PIECES OF 3/4 TO ONE INCH THICK ICE WERE FOUND IN THE GROUND SCAR FOUND UNDER THE RIGHT WING. ICING CONDITIONS WERE FORECASTED ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:23 EST
Nearest AirportBradford Regional (0nm N)
Runway32
Runway Length6500 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172H
Tail NumberN9511H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWilliam B Plotts
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 51 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind260° @ 10 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingOvercast 500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:28

Appendix: Source Data