Fatal Crash of Twin-Engine Aircraft Near Harrisburg-Capital City Airport (N631PT)

Incident Overview and Casualties Shortly after departing runway 08 at Harrisburg-Capital City Airport, a twin-engine aircraft lost control and crashed in flames into a residential structure in the populated area of Bressler. The impact occurred 1.55 statute miles from the departure end of the runway. The aircraft disintegrated upon impact, resulting in the deaths of all eight people on board and one individual inside the house. ## Occupants The flight crew consisted of pilot David M. Wolf and copilot Edward Soisson. The seven passengers included William Sherlock, State Transportation Secretary; Richard C. Frame, State GOP Chairman; William R. Smith, Sherlock's Chief of Staff; Charles Wilson, PennDOT Public Relations Officer; Larry G. Pennsyl, PennDOT photographer; and John W. Krebs, PennDOT data processing manager. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that the probable cause was the flight crew's failure to ensure the aircraft was loaded properly and that its center of gravity remained within certificated limits. This resulted in a center of gravity significantly aft of the certified limits, which severely degraded the aircraft's control characteristics. The imbalance prevented the pilot from controlling the longitudinally unstable aircraft during a climbing turn in instrument meteorological conditions. The investigation found no evidence of engine failure or malfunction, and the flight crew was properly certified with no medical or psychological issues. The accident was deemed not survivable.