STARRUCCA, PA, USA
N34595
CESSNA 177B
DURING A WEATHER BRIEFING BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ADVISED OF ICING CONDITIONS, TURBULENCE, SNOWSHOWERS AND SNOW SQUALLS ALONG RIDGES NORTH OF THE WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON, PA AREA. THE WEATHER BRIEFER INDICATED THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. ALSO, AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT ADVISED THE PILOT NOT TO LEAVE SO LATE IN THE DAY. AT ABOUT 1530 EST, THE PILOT TOOK OFF. AT 1556 EST, HE CONTACTED THE BIRMINGHAM TOWER FOR ASSISTANCE AFTER HE ENCOUNTERED ADVERSE WEATHER. FOR OVER AN HOUR, TOWER PERSONNEL TRIED TO ASSIST THE STUDENT. THE PILOT'S LAST KNOWN TRANSMISSION WAS AT 1706 AFTER HE HAD REPORTED THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER HE WAS FLYING UP OR DOWN. THE PLANE IMPACTED IN A WOODED AREA AFTER DARK IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. A WITNESS, WHO HEARD THE CLEARED UP SHORTLY AFTERWARDS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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