Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Deal, New Jersey 07723
Saturday, September 28, 1996 13:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On 9/27/96, during a flight from Newport News, VA (PHF), to to Collegeville, PA (N10), the pilot flew beyond the destination and landed at Blairstown, NJ, after 3.6 hrs of flight time and after being assisted by ATC due to low fuel. The airplane was refueled with 40.2 gal of fuel, then the pilot flew (1.1 hrs) back to N10. The next day the airplane was refueled with 15.8 gal of fuel, and then the pilot departed on a flight back to PHF. After 3.2 hrs of flight, the engine lost power, and the pilot made a forced landing on a golf course, where the airplane was damaged. Examination revealed about 30 ounces of fuel was remaining in the airplane. The total fuel capacity of the airplane was 42 gal of which 38 gal were considered to be usable. No pre-accident mechanical problem was found. The pilot obtained her private pilot certificate on 9/23/96, and was checked out in the accident airplane on 9/27/96. She had an estimated 67 hrs of total flight experience.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper decision/planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/28/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1340
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DEAL
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07723
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1335 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 220
Weather Observation Facility ID BLM
Elevation of weather observation facility 157
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1556
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 28 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1440
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:22AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N84593
NTSB Number NYC96LA189
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172K
Aircraft Series Identifier 172K
Aircraft Serial Number 17258538
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICK AVIATION INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address WILLIAMSBURG INT. ARPT.
Aircraft Owner City NEWPORT NEWS
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 23602
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code N10
Departure City COLLEGEVILLE
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1040
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PHF
Destination City NEWPORT NEWS
Destination State VA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --