Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Salem, Connecticut 06420
Wednesday, August 19, 1992 13:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT LANDED AT AN AIRPORT TO REFUEL, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO PURCHASE FUEL. HE DECIDED TO TAKEOFF AND FLY TO ANOTHER AIRPORT FOR REFUELING. DURING CRUISE, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD AND STRUCK A TREE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE FAA FOUND LESS THAN ONE HALF A QUART OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INACCURATE FUEL CALCULATIONS AND HIS IMPROPER DECISION TO TAKEOFF WITH A KNOWN LIMITED FUEL SUPPLY RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/19/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SALEM
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06420
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 8
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
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) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2701
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 19 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1721
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47501
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2519B
NTSB Number NYC92LA168
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-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 3879A0137
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 1900 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name U.S.CARGO AIR SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address HGR. 1004 RICKENBACKER ANG
Aircraft Owner City COLUMBUS
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43217
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AMERICAN AIR SERVICE, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address WALLINGFORD RD
Operator City DANBURY
Operator State CT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 06810
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 5B4
Departure City GRISWOLD
Departure State CT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 42B
Destination City E.HADDAM
Destination State CT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --