Piper PA-28-180 N55733
24 May 1992 · Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 24 May 1992 at about 00:25 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N55733, operated by McGuire AFB Aero Club, was involved in an accident near Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one 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 00:25
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, United States
- Nearest airport
- Butler Co. (BTP)
- Coordinates
- 40.7493, -79.8105
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180
- Registration
- N55733
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- McGuire AFB Aero Club
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- McGuire Afb → Butler
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dusk
- NTSB number
- BFO92LA076
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT MISMANAGED THE FUEL SUPPLY, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND THE LOST OF ENGINE POWER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHEN THE PILOT NEARED THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE IT. SUBSEQUENTLY THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN FIELD; THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 5 MILES EAST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE FLIGHT DURATION WAS ABOUT 3.5 HOURS. THE PILOT USED THE HOBBS METER TO TRACK TIME. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE HOBBS METER WAS OPERATING ABOUT 60% SLOWER THAN THE ACTUAL ELAPSED TIME. THE PILOT REPORTED HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, 1.1 HOURS OF HOBBS TIME (ESTIMATED 0.67% HOUR ACTUAL) INTO THE FLIGHT. THE EXAMINATION REVEALED VIRTUALLY NO FUEL IN THE FUEL LINES FORWARD OF THE FIREWALL. ABOUT TWO OUNCES OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE CARBURETOR. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK. THERE WAS NO FUEL FOUND IN THE LEFT TANK; HOWEVER, THE FUEL LINES FROM THE TANK WERE SEVERED. EIGHTEEN GALLONS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT TANK. THE ENGINE OPERATED SATISFACTORY DURING A TEST RUN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-28 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-28-161 | New Smyrna Bch, Florida, United States | ACS, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1992 | Piper PA-28-140 | Denton, Texas, United States | Thomas A. Tweeddale | No injuries | - |
| 26 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-28-140 | Woodland, California, United States | MR. Aircraft, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 1992 | Piper PA-28-140 | Brookfield, Wisconsin, United States | Brookfield Pilot Service, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 6 Dec 1992 | Piper PA-28-181 | Missing Acft, California, United States | West Valley Flying Club | Fatal | 4 |
| 29 Mar 1992 | Piper PA-28-161 | Kenai, Alaska, United States | Tapp, Michael A. | No injuries | - |
All 9,402 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Aug 1992 | Gerald Barker QUICKY 2 | Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States | Gerald L. Barker | No injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 1992 | Bellanca 7ECA | West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, United States | O.t. Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 24 Aug 1992 | Piper PA-34-200T | Coatesville, Pennsylvania, United States | Richard Devaney | No injuries | - |
| 10 Oct 1992 | Cessna 195 | Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, United States | Herbert A. Schaffner | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Oct 1992 | Boeing 737-300 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | Usair | No injuries | - |
| 1 Oct 1992 | Cessna 150G | Lincoln, Pennsylvania, United States | Rodney V. Bowers | Minor injuries | - |