LEWISBURG, WV, USA
N36236
BELLANCA 7GCBC
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE DECIDED TO LEAVE ON THE FLIGHT A DAY EARLIER, BECAUSE OF FORECASTED WEATHER OVER HIS INTENDED ROUTE OF FLIGHT, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS AFTER THE FLIGHT STARTED, THE PILOT SAID HE ENCOUNTERED FOG, AND ELECTED TO LAND, REFUEL, AND WAIT FOR THE WEATHER TO CLEAR. AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 HOURS, HE TOOK OFF, AND AGAIN ENCOUNTERED FOG. HE ELECTED TO TURN BACK AND LAND AT THE SAME AIRPORT AGAIN. THIS TIME HE WAITED SEVERAL HOURS ON THE GROUND, CHECKED WEATHER AND TOOK OFF AGAIN. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF FLIGHT HE AGAIN ENCOUNTERED FOG. THE PILOT WROTE IN HIS STATEMENT, '...TOLD (PASSENGER) LOOKS LIKE WEATHER IS GETTING [BAD]...[AND] WE WERE RETURNING TO [HOME AIRPORT]...I MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN, WAS SETTING MY LORAN...WHEN ENCOUNTERED FOG, NEXT THING I SAW WAS TREES....' THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TREES AND CAME TO REST WITH ENGINE RESTING ON A ROCK AND THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING.
On May 17, 1994, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N36236, piloted by Mr. Sydnor C. Newman Jr., collided with trees while maneuvering near Lewisburg, West Virginia. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot, he decided to leave on the flight a day earlier, because of forecasted weather over his intended route of flight, and the airplane was not equipped for instrument flight. In the vicinity of Lewisburg, West Virginia, and approximately 2 hours after the flight started, the pilot said he encountered fog. He elected to land at the Lewisburg Airport, refuel, and wait for the weather to clear. The pilot wrote in his statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2: ...landed...at 09:00. Took off again approximately one and one half (1 1/2) hours later, encountered fog again...returned again to (Lewisburg). After checking weather we took off at 15:00, after seeing sunshine...told (passenger) looks like weather is getting [bad]...[and] we were returning to FVX [Farmville, Virginia, home airport]...I made a 180 degree turn, was setting my Loran to FVX when encountered fog, next thing I saw was trees... The airplane struck trees, and came to rest with the engine resting against a rock with the engine still running.
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION, INADVERTENT VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE WHICH RESULTED IN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES. A FACTOR WAS INADEQUATE ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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