Beech F33A accident near Doylesburg, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1996
On October 8, 1996 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered N2154L, was destroyed in an accident near Doylesburg, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
continued VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain altitude and/or clearance from high terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, low ceiling, fog, and high (mountainous) terrain along the route.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1996 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Doylesburg, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N2154L · no longer on the register · serial CE-663
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before departure, the pilot was advised by Flight Service Station personnel that VFR flight was not recommended due to low clouds across the mountain ridges along the route of flight. The pilot then elected to depart on a night, VFR, cross-country flight. The airplane was reported missing, and it was located in mountainous terrain along the intended route. The crash site was near the top of a 2,100 foot mountain, at an elevation of about 2,000 feet msl. Cloud layers were reported between 1,500 and 2,500 feet msl at surrounding airports. Witnesses reported that the weather was rainy and foggy at the accident site. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of a preimpact malfunction.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 28 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,578 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 1996; 218 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA/OB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AGC Pittsburgh PA at 10:35 pm
- Destination: AOO Altoona PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from AOO, 30 miles away
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.