Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Palmyra, New York 14522
Tuesady, November 22, 1988 17:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE WHEN THE PILOT SAID HE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN A CANAL AND THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS SWAM TO SHORE. THE PILOT HAD CHANGED HIS DESTINATION FROM NIAGARA FALLS TO ROCHESTER WHILE IN CONTACT WITH SYRACUSE APPROACH CONTROL, DUE TO LOW FUEL; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT ADVISE SYRACUSE OF THE SITUATION AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE ANOTHER 68 MILES. HE RAN OUT OF FUEL 20 MILES SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN A CANAL FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS CAUSED BY FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO MISCALCULATED FUEL BURN BY THE PILOT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/22/1988
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City PALMYRA
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14522
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 11
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 --
Airport Elevation 460
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1651 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 276
Weather Observation Facility ID ROC
Elevation of weather observation facility 559
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 11000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2329
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 22 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1826
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40425
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:19PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2885G
NTSB Number NYC89LA035
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-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-809-0001
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BEVERLY FLIGHT CENTER
Aircraft Owner Street Address BEVERLY AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City BEVERLY
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MARTIN CAVANAUGH
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 71 BUTLER ST.
Operator City SALEM
Operator State MA
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 BVY
Departure City BEVERLY
Departure State MA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ROC
Destination City ROCHESTER
Destination State NY
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 --