# NTSB NYC83FA050: Piper PA-30, N223JN, Montgomery, NY, January 7, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 7, 1983, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Montgomery, NY
- Coordinates: 41.519355, -74.229415 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5194&lon=-74.2294&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35024
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83FA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35024/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83FA050

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - open field (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS ON ONE ENGINE DURING TAKE-OFF INITIAL CLIMB. THE PILOT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE ACFT AND CONTINUED TO FLY THE LANDING PATTERN. ON THE DOWNWIND LEG THE ENGINES RAN INTERMITTENTLY. TURNING FINAL BOTH ENGINESSTOPPED. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN AN OPEN PASTURE 1500 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE REFUELED BY THE TIME FLOWN AND FIGURED 15 GALLONS OF FUEL AN HOUR AS AN AVERAGE CONSUMPTION. ON THIS FLIGHT HE WAS GOING ONCE AROUND THE PATTERN. HE ESTIMATED THE MAIN TANKS TO HAVE 7 GALLONS EACH. WHEN ASKED HOW HE ARRIVED AT THAT ESTIMATE HE SAID 'WHEN HE LOOKED INTO THE MAIN TANKS HE WANTED TO SEE 7 GALLONS AND THATS WHAT HE SAW.' DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE LANDING GEAR WAS DAMAGED AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE WHICH SEPARATED A WING. BOTH OCCUPANTS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE MAIN TANKS CONTAINED LESS THAN A PINT OF FUEL. THE AUX. TANKS CONTAINED ONE GALLON EACHTHE TANK SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE MAIN TANKS. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD PLANNED TO REFUEL AFTER THIS FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N223JN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N223JN-2013-07-18), registration cancelled 2013-07-18, S/N 30-943, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-943
- Airframe hours: 3407
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Group-E Air, Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 6, 1982, 44 hours before
- Departed: MGJ, MONTGOMERY, NY
- Airport: MGJ, Orange County, runway 21, 5,000 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 816 total, 64 in this make and model, 687 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MGJ, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830107000559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830107000559A), Jan 7, 1983: Piper PA30, Montgomery, NY, Destroyed. Fuel exhausted during test flight around pattern at night. Hard landing short of runway. Contaminented fuel remains

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.

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