Grumman GA-7 N115DS

Summary

On 26 January 1989 at about 21:23 local time, a Grumman GA-7 registered N115DS, operated by David W. Sweigart, was involved in an accident near Spartansburg, Pennsylvania, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 January 1989 at 21:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Spartansburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

41.8205, -79.6809

Aircraft

Grumman GA-7

Registration

N115DS

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

David W. Sweigart

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lancaster → Saginaw

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC89FA073

4 people died.

THE PILOTS DECISION TO DISREGARD THE WEATHER FORECAST AND ATTEMPT FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS. AFTER THE WINGS STARTED TO ICE UP, THE PILOT INITIATED A CLIMB BUT COULD NOT MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND INADVERTANTLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT WHICH ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED HIGH SPEED DESCENT TO THE GROUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER RECEIVING A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM FSS THE PILOT DECIDED TO FLY INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS WITH AN AIRCRAFT THAT WAS NEITHER CERTIFIED NOR EQUIPPED FOR FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT 6,100 FEET WHEN THE PILOT TOLD ATC THAT HE WAS PICKING UP ICE AND NEEDED A HIGHER ALTITUDE. HE WAS CLEARED TO 8,000 FEET. ACCORDING TO ATC RADAR DATA, THE AIRCRAFT REACHED 6,500 FEET, AND 12 SECONDS LATER IT WAS AT 3,500 FEET WHEN RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEEN IN A HIGH SPEED DIVE AT FULL POWER JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.