Trenton-Robbinsville Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Trenton, New Jersey 08618
Friday, June 10, 1983 21:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A RAILROAD BRIDGE OVERPASS DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE FLT DEPARTED NC FORNJ WITH AN ENROUTE STOP TO DROP OFF A PASSENGER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REFUEL AT THIS STOP AS PLANNED AND DEPARTED ANDOVERFLEW OTHER SIGHTED ARPTS BECAUSE HE COULD NOT MAKE CONTACT ON UNICOM. MCQUIRE APPROACH CONTROL GAVE THE PILOT THE VECTOR OF 288 DEGREES FOR THE TRENTON-ROBBINSVILLE ARPT.DURING THIS TIME THE RIGHT FUEL TANK RAN DRY AND THE PILOT SWITCHED TANKS TO CONTINUE FLT. WHEN TRENTON-ROBBINSVILLE COULD NOT BE RAISED ON UNICOM THE PILOT CONTINUED ON THE 288 DEGREE HEADING UNTIL FUEL EXHAUSTION. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND WAS VECTORED TO 110 DEGREES FOR THE NEAREST ARPT. THEPILOT COULD NOT REACH THIS ARPT AND CRASHED ON A RAILROAD BRIDGE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A 4 LANE HIWAY. AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION CONFIRMED THE STATE OF FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE ACFT DEPARTED WITH 50 GALLONS AND FLEW 4.1 HOURS. FUEL BURN IS12 GPH.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/10/1983
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2140
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City TRENTON
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08618
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TRENTON-ROBBINSVILLE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N-87
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 4
Degrees magnetic from airport 290
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2100 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 290
Weather Observation Facility ID TTN
Elevation of weather observation facility 213
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 213
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
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 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 690
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 20951
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N15SB
NTSB Number NYC83FHD02
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32-1283
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2768
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name J & S CORPORATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 511 HILLCREST ROAD
Aircraft Owner City APEX
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27502
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JAMES P. MANEY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7605 SUMMERGLEM AVENUE
Operator City RALEIGH
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 27609
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 A-36
Departure City MANAHAWKIN
Departure State NJ
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City TOMS RIVER
Destination State NJ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --