Butler Co. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Saxonburg, Pennsylvania 16056
Saturday, May 23, 1992 20:25 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHEN THE PILOT NEARED THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE IT. SUBSEQUENTLY THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN FIELD; THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 5 MILES EAST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE FLIGHT DURATION WAS ABOUT 3.5 HOURS. THE PILOT USED THE HOBBS METER TO TRACK TIME. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE HOBBS METER WAS OPERATING ABOUT 60% SLOWER THAN THE ACTUAL ELAPSED TIME. THE PILOT REPORTED HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, 1.1 HOURS OF HOBBS TIME (ESTIMATED 0.67% HOUR ACTUAL) INTO THE FLIGHT. THE EXAMINATION REVEALED VIRTUALLY NO FUEL IN THE FUEL LINES FORWARD OF THE FIREWALL. ABOUT TWO OUNCES OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE CARBURETOR. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK. THERE WAS NO FUEL FOUND IN THE LEFT TANK; HOWEVER, THE FUEL LINES FROM THE TANK WERE SEVERED. EIGHTEEN GALLONS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT TANK. THE ENGINE OPERATED SATISFACTORY DURING A TEST RUN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT MISMANAGED THE FUEL SUPPLY, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND THE LOST OF ENGINE POWER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/23/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2025
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SAXONBURG
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 16056
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BUTLER CO.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BTP
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 1248
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 2035
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BTP
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 954
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 24 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52008
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:54PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N55733
NTSB Number BFO92LA076
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name T.M.C. LEASING
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MCGUIRE AFB AERO CLUB
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address MCQUIRE AIR FORCE BASE
Operator City TRENTON
Operator State NJ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 08641
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 WRI
Departure City MCGUIRE AFB
Departure State NJ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1657
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BTP
Destination City BUTLER
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --