Cessna 205 accident near Jeannette, Pennsylvania, June 15, 2003
On June 15, 2003 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 205, registered N124A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jeannette, Pennsylvania (Greensburg Jeannette Regional airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of power caused by fragments of the air filter being ingested in the engine. A factor was the pilot's delayed decision to perform a forced landing after experiencing a partial loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2003 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Jeannette, Pennsylvania · Greensburg Jeannette Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 205
- Registration
- N124A · registry record · serial 205-0429
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses observed the airplane depart to the north, and experience a partial loss of power during the takeoff climb. The airplane then began a turn to the left, and initiated what appeared to be a right base entry for a landing on runway 20. The airplane continued the turn, past 270 degrees, and as it flew beyond the end of the runway, the engine appeared to regain power and the airplane began a climb. The airplane then banked sharply and impacted trees. Examination of the engine cylinders revealed heavy black combustion deposits, on the number 3 and number 6 cylinder chambers, exhibiting signatures of operation with a foreign material. Additionally, two pieces of aluminum material were found in the combustion chamber of the number 6 cylinder. The aluminum pieces were identified to be the same material as the air filter mount frame from the airframe induction system. The number 5 top compression ring was also broken and severely worn. According to the Continental Report, "The ingestion of foreign material in cylinder combustion chambers can affect proper valve operation/timing and produce a combustion miss, thereby diminishing the engine power output."
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 809 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 778 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 2, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,141 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 2002; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5G8 Jeannette PA at 5:13 pm
- Destination: 5G8
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,605 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 4:47 pm from LBE, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N124A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.