Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Melville, New York 11747
Monday, April 19, 1993 11:03 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DEPARTED ON A 325 MILE LEG OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. AFTER FLYING 90 MILES, WITH THE FUEL GAUGES READING HALF A TANK OF FUEL, THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND SHORT OF HIS PLANNED DESTINATION. THE PILOT CONTINUED ANOTHER 110 MILES, WHERE 2 MILES SHORT OF THE NEW DESTINATION, AND 3 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED. WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON AN ACCESS ROAD NEAR THE AIRPORT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE, IMPACTED THE GROUND AND SLID INTO A TRUCK TRAILER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/19/1993
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1103
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MELVILLE
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 11747
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 4
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1107 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID FRG
Elevation of weather observation facility 81
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 132
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 19 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1135
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50441
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N601MS
NTSB Number NYC93LA087
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150L
Aircraft Series Identifier 150L
Aircraft Serial Number 15071514
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 3 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 2400
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOSEPH TIFFANY
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 223 WAVECREST CIRCLE
Aircraft Owner City YORK
Aircraft Owner State ME
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03909
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOSEPH TIFFANY
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address BOX 223 WAVECREST CIRCLE
Operator City YORK
Operator State ME
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 03909
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 3B4
Departure City ELIOT
Departure State ME
Departure Country
Departure Time 735
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N99
Destination City WEST CHESTER
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight 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 --