Heathsville Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Heathsville, Virginia 22473
Friday, October 2, 1992 13:12 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. SHE WAS PLANNING TO LAND AT AN AIRPORT TO REFUEL, BUT HER FLIGHT TIME WAS RUNNING BEHIND SCHEDULE, SO SHE DECIDED TO OVERFLY THE AIRPORT AND CONTINUE TO HER FINAL DESTINATION. ENROUTE SHE REALIZED THAT THE FUEL SUPPLY ONBOARD THE AIRPLANE WAS INADEQUATE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLIGHT, SO SHE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM ATC. SHE REQUESTED VECTORS TO AN AIRPORT WHERE SHE COULD OBTAIN FUEL. ATC VECTORED HER TO AN AIRPORT, BUT THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO LAND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, AND A GO-AROUND WAS PERFORMED. ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT, THE ENGINE QUIT ON BASE LEG. THE PILOT LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN A CORN FIELD. THE FAA FOUND NO SIGNIFICANT FUEL IN THE TANKS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION BY THE STUDENT PILOT RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/2/1992
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1312
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City HEATHSVILLE
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22473
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 HEATHSVILLE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7W7
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 105
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 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) --
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) 776
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 2 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48240
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 N2434B
NTSB Number NYC93LA007
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
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 38-79A0060
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 38
Airframe Hours 6277
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAWN AERONAUTICS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 120 OLD CHURCHMAN'S RD
Aircraft Owner City NEW CASTLE
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19720
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DAWN AERONAUTICS, 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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MRB
Departure City MARTINSBURG
Departure State WV
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ILG
Destination City NEW CASTLE
Destination State DE
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 18
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --