Messena Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Messena, New York 13662
Thursday, January 11, 1990 12:20 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE WAS ON A FERRY FLIGHT WITH ADDITIONAL FUEL TANKS INSTALLED IN THE CABIN. THE PILOT SAID HIS AIRSPEED WAS READING HIGH, THEN IT DROPPED TO ZERO. HE ALSO SAID HE LOST HIS LEFT GENERATOR AND THE FUEL GAGES WERE SHOWING A 100 PERCENT INCREASE IN FUEL CONSUMPTION. HE REQUESTED AN ILS APPROACH TO A NEARBY AIRPORT AND WHILE CIRCLING TO LAND, ON BASE LEG, AND EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER LOSS. THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON A ROAD 1000 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, STRIKING A LIGHT POLE WITH THE LEFT WING. THE FAA WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS AND SAID FUEL WAS AVAILABLE IN THE TANKS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE AIRPLANE STRIKING A LIGHT POLE DURING AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING ON A ROAD, DUE TO A DOUBLE POWER LOSS FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOTS UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/11/1990
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1220
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MESSENA
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13662
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MESSENA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MSS
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 214
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2050 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MSS
Elevation of weather observation facility 214
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
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) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 18
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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) 1357
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 16 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 840
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42668
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:44PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1506X
NTSB Number NYC90LA049
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-34-200T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-34-200T
Aircraft Serial Number 34-7570265
Certified Max Gross Weight 4570
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 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 25 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 2441
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WEAVER AERO INT'L
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 39
Aircraft Owner City HESSTON
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 67067
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ORIENT AIR INT'L
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1005 WEST MARIE
Operator City MINNEAPOLIS
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 55118
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) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code AZO
Departure City KALAMAZOO
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1840
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BGR
Destination City BANGOR
Destination State ME
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 23
Runway Length 5001
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --