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December 2, 1982 · Piper PA-32-260 · N32750

Douglassville, PA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 2, 1982
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (3 fatalities, 2 serious injuries)
Location
Douglassville, PA
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-260
Tail Number
N32750
Operator
Basco Flying Service
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC83FA037

AT APRX 1540 EST, THE ACFT WAS DISPATCHED TO PHILADELPHIA, PA ON A PAX FLT. AFTER ARRIVING, THE PLT REMAINED THERE TO PICK UP 4 OTHER PAX THAT WERE ARRIVING AT APPROX 2100 EST. AT 2007, THE PLT RECEIVED A PARTIAL WX BRIEF & FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN TO RTN TO POTTSTOWN. THE ACFT DEPARTED WITH AN IFR CLNC AT 2145 & PROCEEDED AT 3000 FT MSL, JUST ABV THE CLD TOPS. DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS CLRD FOR A VOR-B APCH TO THE POTTSTOWN MUNI ARPT. HE RPRTD THAT HE COULD SEE THE ARPT BEACON FROM OVER THE VOR, BUT NOTED PATCHY GND FOG. THE APCH WAS CONTD TO THE MISSED APCH POINT WHERE HE LOST SITE OF THE BCN. HE BGN MAKING A MISSED APCH; HOWEVER, WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED, NO DIFFERENCE IN ENG SOUND WAS NOTED, EXCEPT HE RECALLED THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME "FLUTTER IN THE ENGINE." RPRTDLY, THE ACFT CONTD DSNDG & SLOWING TIL IT HIT TREES AT 440 FT MSL, APRX 1 MI NW OF THE ARPT (ARPT ELEV 256 FT). NO PREIMPACT FAILURE WAS FOUND. TEMP & DEW PT WERE 48 DEG, ICG PROB CHART INDICATED SERIOUS CARB ICG CONDS WERE PRESENT. HOWEVER, PSN OF CARB HEAT CTL COULD NOT BE VERIFIED.

Full Narrative

AT APRX 1540 EST, THE ACFT WAS DISPATCHED TO PHILADELPHIA, PA ON A PAX FLT. AFTER ARRIVING, THE PLT REMAINED THERE TO PICK UP 4 OTHER PAX THAT WERE ARRIVING AT APPROX 2100 EST. AT 2007, THE PLT RECEIVED A PARTIAL WX BRIEF & FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN TO RTN TO POTTSTOWN. THE ACFT DEPARTED WITH AN IFR CLNC AT 2145 & PROCEEDED AT 3000 FT MSL, JUST ABV THE CLD TOPS. DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS CLRD FOR A VOR-B APCH TO THE POTTSTOWN MUNI ARPT. HE RPRTD THAT HE COULD SEE THE ARPT BEACON FROM OVER THE VOR, BUT NOTED PATCHY GND FOG. THE APCH WAS CONTD TO THE MISSED APCH POINT WHERE HE LOST SITE OF THE BCN. HE BGN MAKING A MISSED APCH; HOWEVER, WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED, NO DIFFERENCE IN ENG SOUND WAS NOTED, EXCEPT HE RECALLED THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME "FLUTTER IN THE ENGINE." RPRTDLY, THE ACFT CONTD DSNDG & SLOWING TIL IT HIT TREES AT 440 FT MSL, APRX 1 MI NW OF THE ARPT (ARPT ELEV 256 FT). NO PREIMPACT FAILURE WAS FOUND. TEMP & DEW PT WERE 48 DEG, ICG PROB CHART INDICATED SERIOUS CARB ICG CONDS WERE PRESENT. HOWEVER, PSN OF CARB HEAT CTL COULD NOT BE VERIFIED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time22:05 EST
Nearest AirportPottstown Municipal (0nm N)
Runway25
Runway Length2700 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32-260
Tail NumberN32750
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorBasco Flying Service
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-E4B5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary5 injuries (3 fatalities, 2 serious injuries)
Fatal3
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total5
Crew 1Age 41 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Ceiling400 ft
Temperature / Dew Point12 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time02:45

Appendix: Source Data