Piper PA-28-161 N47900
21 August 1997 · Blairsville, Pennsylvania, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 21 August 1997 at about 17:35 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N47900 was involved in an accident near Blairsville, Pennsylvania, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 17:35
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Blairsville, Pennsylvania, United States
- Nearest airport
- Jim Shearer South (PA48)
- Coordinates
- 40.4291, -79.2596
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161
- Registration
- N47900
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Auburn → Latrobe
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC97LA168
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations and improper in-flight planning/decision, which led to fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot said he visually verified that the airplane had full fuel tanks before departure. He estimated that would provide 6 hours of fuel endurance for the anticipated 4 hour and 50 minute flight. The pilot stated the engine began to miss as he approached his destination. He said he switched tanks several times and rocked the airplane using rudder to search for more fuel. The pilot attempted a forced landing at an airport prior to his destination, but the airplane crashed at the departure end of the landing runway. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of fuel. The Hobbs meter reflected 5.1 hours from the time of departure.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-28 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Feb 1997 | Piper PA-28 | Mulege, Mexico | Aabas Flying Club | No injuries | - |
| 14 Apr 1997 | Piper PA-28-160 | Pickens, South Carolina, United States | Chester D. Maynard | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1997 | Piper PA-28 | Nelson, Canada | California Planners and Consul | Fatal | 4 |
| 27 Jun 1997 | Piper PA-28-140 | Leadville, Colorado, United States | Michael S. Luther | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 1997 | Piper PA-28-181 | Leadore, Idaho, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Mar 1997 | Piper PA-28-161 | Sanford, Maine, United States | - | No injuries | - |
All 9,402 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jan 1997 | Piper PA-28R-200 | Thorndale, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jan 1997 | Cessna 650 | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Feb 1997 | Berry VANS RV-4 | York, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 1997 | Aerospatiale AS-355F | Washington, Pennsylvania, United States | Corporate Jets, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Mar 1997 | Lowe SUPER KOALA | Perry Township, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Apr 1997 | Piper PA-28-161 | Butler, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |