Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Long Pond, Pennsylvania 18334
Saturday, November 30, 1996 17:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was en route at night in instrument meteorological conditions at 8000 feet, when he reported that fuel exhaustion had occurred and the engine had lost power. He made a forced landing in a wooded area, and the occupants remained with the airplane overnight. They were rescued the next morning by search personnel, aided by the signal from the emergency locator beacon of the airplane. The accident occurred on the return leg of a round trip flight. The pilot last refueled the aircraft before starting the trip. The aircraft was subsequently operated about 4.2 hours (2.2 hours on the accident leg) when the loss of power occurred. Examination of the airplane revealed the fuel tanks were empty. The pilot indicated that he checked the fuel level during the preflight and felt he had enough to complete the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and improper inflight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power, due to an inadequate supply of fuel. Darkness and trees in the emergency landing area were related factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/30/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1740
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City LONG POND
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 18334
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 11
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 7
Degrees magnetic from airport 210
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1750 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 195
Weather Observation Facility ID ABE
Elevation of weather observation facility 394
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
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) 1.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1740
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 30 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:28AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4839F
NTSB Number NYC97LA023
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7790066
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 15 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 1885
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALEXANDRIA AVIATION INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 21 HOG HOLLOW ROAD
Aircraft Owner City PITTSTOWN
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 08867
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 None
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 0B5
Departure City MONTAGUE
Departure State MA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N85
Destination City PITTSTOWN
Destination State NJ
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 --