Pittsburgh - Johnstown

On January 6, 1974 at 07:05 PM, Pittsburgh - Johnstown experienced a crash involving Beechcraft 99 Airliner, operated by Air East, with the event recorded near Johnstown Pennsylvania.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

17 people were known to be on board, 12 fatalities were recorded, 5 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 70.6%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 15, passenger fatalities: 11, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Following an uneventful flight from Pittsburgh-International Airport, the crew deliberately started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to approach below the minimum published altitude. While descending in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck an ILS antenna and crashed few dozen yards short of runway 33 threshold. A pilot and four passengers were seriously injured while 12 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed. By reason of numerous violations, unsafe practices, policies, and coercing tactics, Air East has demonstrated that it does not possess the judgement, responsibility or compliance disposition required of a holder of an air taxi commercial operators certificate. Thus, the operator's AOC was revoked on March 7, 1974.

Aircraft reference details include registration N125AE, MSN U-125, year of manufacture 1969.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 40.3267°, -78.9220°.