Cessna 205 accident near Columbia, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1996
On November 29, 1996 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 205, registered N1892Z, was destroyed in an accident near Columbia, Pennsylvania (Mcginness Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to obtain/maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, and collision with trees during the initial climb. A factor in the accident was a tailwind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 29, 1996 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, Pennsylvania · Mcginness Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 205
- Registration
- N1892Z · no longer on the register · serial 2050029
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff, when the airplane became airborne, a witness heard a horn or buzzer and the airplane returned to the runway momentarily before becoming airborne again, and then impacted terrain. The witness reported the pilot said, 'Can't keep it in the air or something like that.' She also said that the engine was running and there were no noticeable changes in sound prior to impact. A FAA inspector stated that the airplane appeared to have fallen through the trees at a steep vertical angle. Winds reported at airports 16 miles northwest, and 11 miles east of the accident site were from 280 degrees at 5 knots, and from 290 degrees at 4 knots, respectively.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,050 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 8N7 at 5:15 pm
- Destination: Philadelphia PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 1,850 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft; clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from LNS, 70 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.