# NTSB NYC81FHD12: Piper PA-28, N6423J, Wilmington, DE, February 1, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: February 1, 1981
- Place: Wilmington, DE · WILMINGTON, DE
- Location: 39.7357° N, 75.5321° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wilmington, DE, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7357&lon=-75.5321&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 1, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127307
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC81FHD12
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FHD12

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0250   81/2/1    WILMINGTON,DE       PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  2  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 52, 96 TOTAL
        TIME - 1215                    N6423J              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 11 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GRTR WILMINGTON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WILMINGTON,DE               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - SMOKE IN COCKPIT
        REMARKS- FUEL SEL PSND ON EMPTY TANK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6423J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6423J-1982-12-16), registration cancelled 1982-12-16, S/N 28-4841 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Grtr Wilmington

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810201003309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810201003309A), Feb 1, 1981: Piper PA28180, Wilmington, DE, Substantial damage. Engine quit on final. Impacted rough ground short of runway. Found fuel selector on empty tank.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
