- Date
- April 27, 1994, 14:24 local (18:24 UTC)
- Place
- Williamstown, NJ
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N93ANPitts S2B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940427009359A
- Case key
- 8920
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to accurately determine the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that the indicated fuel on start up was approximately 5/8 main tank (14 gallons). After leveling off, he checked the instruments and noted that the fuel level was about 1/8TH fuel (2.5 gallons). He elected to land at the nearest airport, cross keys, new jersey, which was 12 miles to the east. The airplane lost total power about 2 miles west of cross keys. Post accident examination revealed the fuel tanks were empty. Also, no anomalies were found during the inspection. An engine test run was performed under the supervision of the FAA, and the report stated, 'this engine met all new engine test parameters, as no fault in the engine could be found.'
Factual narrative
On April 27, 1994, about 1425 eastern daylight time, a Pitts S2B, N93AN, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Williamstown, New Jersey. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There was no flight plan for the flight being conducted under CFR Part 91.
In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated,
I departed Wilmington, DE (ILG) with one passenger, Diana Combs, at approximately 1410 local time for a VFR flight to the east (intended destination: Old Bridge, New Jersey (3N6). Indicated fuel at start-up was approximately 5/8th main tank (auxiliary tank empty). Upon completing leaning procedure after level-off from initial climb to 2500 feet MSL, I performed a routine instrument check and noted the fuel level to indicate approximately 1/8th. I elected to land at the closest airport, which was Cross Keys, NJ (17N), straight ahead at approximately 12 nautical miles. Powerplant failure occurred approximately 2 miles west of Cross Keys, and I executed a forced landing in a farm field.
Post accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector revealed that the fuel tanks were empty. Additionally, the examination revealed no defects.
An engine test run was performed by Textron Lycoming under the supervision of a FAA Inspector. In the report of the engine test run results, submitted by the FAA Inspector, it stated, "This engine met all new engine test parameters, as no fault in the engine could be found."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N93AN
- Reported as
- Pitts S2B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5283
- Airframe hours
- 30
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO-540-D4AS, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John Mullaney
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 21, 1994 · 22 hours before
- Departed
- ILG · Wilmington, DE
- Destination
- 3N6 · Old Bridge, NJ
- Airport
- 17N · Cross Keys
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,870 total · 25 in this make and model · 1,614 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MIV, 18 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.