Aerospatiale TB-20 accident near University Park, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1997
On January 18, 1997 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Aerospatiale TB-20, registered N2803A, was substantially damaged in an accident near University Park, Pennsylvania (University Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inability to control the airplane due to a damaged/bent elevator control lever and resultant lack of elevator authority.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 1997 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- University Park, Pennsylvania · University Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale TB-20
- Registration
- N2803A · registry record · serial 1036
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during preflight, the elevator controls 'seemed normal with full travel forward and aft.' After takeoff, the pilot noticed that he could not maintain normal takeoff pitch attitude. The airplane continued an excessive climb rate out of his control, even with full forward yoke. The pilot stated that to control the airplane, power adjustments were needed to keep the nose down. He maneuvered to land on the airport; however, on final approach to land, the airplane stalled just above the runway numbers. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed bending of the elevator control lever due to overload from an undetermined source.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,622 hours in all; 1,760 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 2,566 as pilot in command; 416 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 955 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 1996; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,086 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-CD D50 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UNV
- Destination: ILG Wilmington DE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:59 pm from UNV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.