Erie - Erie

On December 28, 1989 at 12:01 PM, Erie - Erie experienced a crash involving Beechcraft 60 Duke, operated by Automation Devices, with the event recorded near Erie Pennsylvania.

The flight was categorized as test and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a city crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

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

The listed crash cause is human factor. The pilot departed on a local VFR flight at 1117. At 1154 he contacted Erie tower for landing. He then advised the tower at 1159 that he had feathered the right engine. One minute later he reported that the left engine was '...kicking out.' The aircraft stalled into a house 6 miles from the airport, and just short of the shoreline of Lake Erie. No fuel was found in the right wing. 7 gallons were drained from the left wing; no fuel was found in the left engine. Right fuel quantity c/b secured in out position by wire tie; several burned components found on back of right fuel quantity gage pc board. Most recent record of fuel purchase which could be found was for May 25, 1989. A pocket diary was found in the wreckage which contained entries of flight times and fuel quantity notations. The accident occurred at 155 Euclide Avenue, Erie, about six miles east of runway 24 threshold. Both occupants were killed. Pilot: Floyd E. Smith. Passenger: Elwood Graham.

Aircraft reference details include registration N478AD, MSN P-59, year of manufacture 1969.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 42.1295°, -80.0853°.