Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newburyport, Massachusetts 01951
Wednesday, October 14, 1992 23:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PILOT OBSERVED A LOW FUEL QUANITY INDICATION. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND REQUESTED VECTORS FOR LANDING, HOWEVER, BEFORE REACHING THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY, AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE LEFT WING STRUCK A ROAD SIGN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED 'LESS THAN ONE PINT OF FUEL...FROM EACH SUMP.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/14/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2350
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NEWBURYPORT
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01951
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 10
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 Witness
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 Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
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 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) 638
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 15 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48035
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2386L
NTSB Number NYC93LA020
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 38-79A0690
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 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BEVERLY FLIGHT CENTER, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 349
Aircraft Owner City DANVERS
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01923
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BEVERLY FLIGHT CENTER, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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 B21
Departure City CARRABASSETT
Departure State ME
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BVY
Destination City BEVERLY
Destination State MA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --