Piper PA-28-151 N8738E
27 March 1991 · Martinsburg, West Virginia, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 27 March 1991 at about 01:36 local time, a Piper PA-28-151 registered N8738E, operated by Martin Aircraft, was involved in an accident near Martinsburg, West Virginia, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:36
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Martinsburg, West Virginia, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.4609, -77.9699
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151
- Registration
- N8738E
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Martin Aircraft
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Ferry
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Northampton → Martinsburg
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO91LA035
People
3 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
FUEL EXHAUSTION WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRPLANE WAS PURCHASED AT NORTHAMPTON AND IT WAS BEING FERRIED TO THE NEW HOME BASE AT PINE BLUFF, AR. THE PASSENGERS HELD PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATES. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 4 HOURS AFTER TAKEOFF, BASED ON THE HOBBSMETER AND TACHOMETER TIMES. THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE NEARED MARTINSBURG, AN INTERMEDIATE STOP, THE FUEL PRESSURE GAGE BEGAN FLUCTUATING. HE TURNED ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP, BUT HE DOES NOT RECALL DETAILS OF THE FLIGHT AFTERWARDS. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS WAS SEATED IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT, AND INDICATED THAT HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE MOST OF THE FLIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT THEY STOPPED EARLIER WHILE EN ROUTE AT ANOTHER AIRPORT, BUT THERE WERE NO SERVICES THERE, SO THE FLIGHT WAS RESUMED. HE SAID THAT MRB WAS IN SIGHT WHEN THE FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. HE SAID THE PILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE FLIGHT. ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE POWER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY AND NO EVIDENCE OF A FUEL SPILL WAS NOTED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-28 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Hibbing, Minnesota, United States | WM. & Audrey Svigel | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1991 | Piper PA-28 | Berryville, Arkansas, United States | Snider, Richard D. | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Nov 1991 | Piper PA-28-161 | Greeley, Colorado, United States | P.c. Flyers | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-28-180 | Old Bridge, New Jersey, United States | Martin Sade | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jan 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Titusville, Florida, United States | Achord, Marvin L. | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Dec 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Yuma, Colorado, United States | Aero Training of the Rockies | No injuries | - |
All 9,402 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jun 1991 | Piper PA-22-150 | Elkins, West Virginia, United States | Allen D Chenoweth | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jun 1991 | Cessna 172M | Beckley, West Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1991 | Cessna A185F | Norton, West Virginia, United States | Dewey B. Durrett | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Sep 1991 | Piper PA-28-181 | Belington, West Virginia, United States | Stear, Jackson C. & Barbara J. | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Oct 1991 | Cessna T210N | Wheeling, West Virginia, United States | Marcia S Morton | No injuries | - |
| 16 Nov 1991 | Stinson 108 | Spanishburg, West Virginia, United States | Larry D. Misenhelder | Serious injuries | - |