Great Lakes 2T1-A2 accident near Fombell, Pennsylvania, August 16, 1995
On August 16, 1995 at about 3:27 pm local time, a Great Lakes 2T1-A2, registered N49CR, was destroyed in an accident near Fombell, Pennsylvania (Zelienople airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1995 · about 3:27 pm local time
- Place
- Fombell, Pennsylvania · Zelienople · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Great Lakes 2T1-A2 · all 2T1-A2s on the register
- Registration
- N49CR · registry record · serial 0810
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had landed at the Zelienople Airport after a 1-hour flight from Wadsworth, Ohio. The airplane was not refueled. The pilot then departed in formation with another similar biplane. After takeoff, at 200 feet, the pilot reported that he was losing power, and turned back to the runway. During the turn, the second pilot advised him to keep his nose down. The second pilot then observed the airplane roll up on its left wing, followed by a nose down and impact with the ground. A postcrash fire consumed the airplane. During examination of the wreckage, no preimpact failures of the airframe or engine were observed. The pilot recently purchased the airplane in Mexico. He had ferried the airplane to a repair station in the United States, and then to his home field. The pilot had accumulated 20.4 hours, and 19 takeoffs and landings in the accident airplane.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,500 hours in all; 26 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 217 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 22, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 1,580 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B1G6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 8G7 at 3:24 pm
- Destination: NONE Prospect PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from PIT, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.