Incident Overview
On the morning of November 29, 1982, an aircraft crashed into a mountain shortly after departing from Hazleton, Pennsylvania. The accident occurred approximately one mile northwest of the airport at an elevation of about 1,700 feet MSL, roughly 50 feet below the summit. The airport elevation is 1,604 feet.
Sequence of Events
The pilot had landed at Hazleton on November 28, 1982, after encountering icing conditions. The aircraft was not deiced while on the ground, and icing conditions persisted through the night until the following morning. During the departure on November 29, the aircraft was observed to use more than two-thirds of the 4,899-foot runway—approximately three times its normal takeoff roll. After lifting off from Runway 28, the aircraft collided with trees on the north side of a mountain.
Environmental Conditions
A hunter in the vicinity of the crash site reported dense fog in the area. He heard the aircraft approaching but did not see it until just before impact. The hunter noted that the engine sound was steady and loud during the approach.