Piper PA-28-161 N2972D
11 November 1990 · Saxton, Pennsylvania, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 11 November 1990 at about 23:40 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N2972D was involved in an accident near Saxton, Pennsylvania, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Saxton, Pennsylvania, United States
- Coordinates
- 40.2095, -78.2407
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161
- Registration
- N2972D
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Atlantic City → Pittsburgh
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC91LA026
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Probable cause
AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AND THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CFI'S INADEQUATE EXECUTION OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE CFI AND PRIVATE RATED STUDENT PILOT FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN AND DEPARTED ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH AN INOPERATIVE VACUUM PUMP. WHILE EN ROUTE TO THE PLANNED DESTINATION, THE PILOTS ENCOUNTERED SNOW SHOWER AND DIVERTED TOWARDS ALTOONA, PA. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SURGE AND LOSE POWER. THE CFI GAINED A MOMENTARY RESTORATION OF POWER WITH THE CARBURETOR HEAT APPLIED; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A DENSELY WOODED AREA AT NIGHT. POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS OVER 3/4 FULL. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT TANK POSITION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-28 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Dec 1990 | Piper PA-28-151 | Jupiter, Florida, United States | Zimmerman, Barry L. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Apr 1990 | Piper PA-28-161 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Chandler Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 13 Oct 1990 | Piper PA-28-140 | Agua Dulce, California, United States | R.i. Flying Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 May 1990 | Piper PA-28-181 | East Lansing, Michigan, United States | J. J. Tiefenthaler | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Apr 1990 | Piper PA-28-140 | Forsyth, Montana, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Feb 1990 | Piper PA-28-161 | Sebastian, Florida, United States | FL Institute of Technology | Fatal | 1 |
All 9,402 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul 1990 | Aeronca 7BCM | Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States | Edward Cole | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jul 1990 | Piper PA-23-150 | Radnow Township, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Jul 1990 | Cessna 340A | Prospect, Pennsylvania, United States | Brennan Aviation Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 1990 | Cessna 180 | Hilltown, Pennsylvania, United States | JOE A. Bawduniak | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1990 | Piper PA-28-151 | Mt Pocono, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1990 | Piper PA-28-140 | Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, United States | Raymond L. Corper | No injuries | - |