Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 18705
Wednesday, December 15, 1993 17:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE CRUISING AT FL 240, THE PILOT OBSERVED THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE GRADUALLY DECREASE FROM THE NORMAL TO THE CAUTION RANGE AND A DROP IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE. HE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED VECTORS FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT AN AIRPORT SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION. DURING THE DESCENT, THE OIL PRESSURE CONTINUED TO DROP TO ZERO AND ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. HE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE AIRPORT UNDERNEATH THE OVERCAST, BUT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER PREVENTED HIM FROM REACHING THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES 1200 FEET FROM THE AIRPORT. THE 6 ENGINE CYLINDER ASSEMBLIES WERE CHANGED 7 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND TURBOCHARGERS DID NOT REVEAL THE SOURCE OF THE OIL LOSS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

was the loss of engine oil for undetermined reasons and the subsequent engine failure, resulting in a forced landing and collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/15/1993
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WILKES-BARRE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 18705
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AVP
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 962
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1750 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID AVP
Elevation of weather observation facility 962
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 2400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2021
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 15 1993 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 11 2000 1:48PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N92GP
NTSB Number NYC94LA039
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-46
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-46
Aircraft Serial Number 4622120
Certified Max Gross Weight 4318
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 7 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 206
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN F. BURTON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 640 HATTERAS COURT
Aircraft Owner City COROLLA
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27927
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BED
Departure City BEDFORD
Departure State MA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1635
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code JYO
Destination City LEESBURG
Destination State VA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:48PM
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 --