Piper J-3 N58379

Summary

On 16 June 1996 at about 22:45 local time, a Piper J-3 registered N58379 was involved in an accident near Ashton, Maryland, United States. 2 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.

Date

16 June 1996 at 22:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Ashton, Maryland, United States

Coordinates

39.1503, -76.9795

Aircraft

Piper J-3

Registration

N58379

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kent Island → Laytonsville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD96LA097

2 people had minor injuries.

the pilot's inadequate fuel supply which resulted in a fuel exhaustion and a loss of engine power. A related factor was the pilot's inadequate fuel consumption calculations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he departed from the airplane's home base airport with about 9 gallons of fuel. The flight to Kent Island took about 45 minutes. He estimated that when he departed Kent Island to return to the home base the fuel tanks held about 5 gallons of fuel. About 40 minutes after they departed Kent Island, and about 5 miles from the destination airport, the engine lost power. The pilot stated that he chose a field to land in, but in order to avoid livestock and power lines, he '...aimed the airplane to a spot just past the middle of the field.' The airplane stuck a small wire fence with the right main landing gear. The pilot stated that the cause of the loss of engine power was fuel exhaustion.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.