# NTSB NYC81FHM03: Piper PA-28, N15942, Franklin Lakes, NJ, April 17, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: April 17, 1981
- Place: Franklin Lakes, NJ · FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ
- Location: 41.0075° N, 74.2057° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Franklin Lakes, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0075&lon=-74.2057&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126273
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC81FHM03
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FHM03

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0913  81/4/17    FRANKLIN LAKES,NJ   PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 140
        TIME - 1954                    N15942              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NORWOOD,MA                  MORRISTOWN,NJ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- STRUCK TELEPHONE POLE,WIRES,TREE.DARK NGT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15942](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15942-1982-04-15), registration cancelled 1982-04-15, S/N 28-7325207 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810417017919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810417017919A), Apr 17, 1981: Piper PA28140, Franklin Lakes, NJ, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel en route. Landing in residential area, struck a utility pole.

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.