What happened
A cargo flight traveling from New York-LaGuardia Airport to Pittsburgh entered an uncontrolled descent while flying at night. The twin engine airplane struck a mountain near Troxelville, Pennsylvania, during a period of inclement weather. Search efforts located the wreckage three days after the impact. The pilot, who was the only person on board the aircraft, was killed in the accident.
At the time of the crash, the area was experiencing poor visibility due to fog, and the flight was operating in icing conditions.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements related to the weather and the state of the aircraft. The following factors were noted:
- Presence of ice on the airframe and propellers
- Severe icing conditions involving freezing rain and sleet
- Visibility restricted to two miles or less
- An improperly loaded cargo configuration
- Failure of both deicing and anti-icing systems
- Poor decision-making during the flight
Ultimately, the crash was caused by an uncontrolled descent following the pilot's attempt to operate the aircraft despite known equipment deficiencies.